In this work of comparative transitology, Marsh (political science and Asian studies, Baylor U.) explores the reform processes of the Soviet Union and China. Among the questions he explores are the reasons the states decided to undertake reform and the causes for state collapse in one case and seeming stability in the other. He also considers the development paths of Russia following state collapse and China after the Tiananmen massacre, focusing on the starkly different choices made by the two states. Finally, he examines questions of impact interaction effects and lesson drawing between the two states. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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The reforms of the Soviet and Chinese communist regimes were unparalleled-both in the radical, precedent-setting reforms attempted by the two countries and in the outcomes of these attempts. While the Soviet Union collapsed quickly in the midst of its reforms, more than a decade later China, the world's most populous country, still stands as a testament to the resilience of Communist rule. It is this phenomenon that Christopher Marsh explores in Unparalleled Reforms. Marsh goes beyond simply discussing the differing initial conditions, the sequencing of reform, and cultural differences to also consider the objectives and intentions of the policy makers and leaders that directed the reform processes and the interdependent nature of politics on the world stage. Unparalleled Reforms offers the reader a sophisticated understanding of the nature of political reform and develops a theoretical model that can account for commonly overlooked factors that affect political processes in all types of political systems. In a class all its own, this is an important work for scholars interested in comparative politics, international relations, economics, Asian studies, and Russian studies.
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