Soviet Policy for the 1980s

by Archie Brown

First published 1982

Brown opens with the Soviet Union at a crossroads as aging leaders face mounting economic pressures and international tensions. The author analyzes the political machinery of the Kremlin during this pivotal period, examining how party officials navigate competing demands from military hawks, economic reformers, and ideological purists. Brown traces the decision-making processes that shaped Soviet foreign policy toward the West, military spending priorities, and domestic economic planning. He reveals the internal debates over Afghanistan, arms control negotiations, and the growing technology gap with capitalist nations. The book explores how personal rivalries within the Politburo influenced major policy directions, while external pressures from Reagan's America and economic stagnation created new challenges for communist leadership. Brown concludes by assessing what these policy choices meant for the Soviet system's long-term viability and its relationship with both allies and adversaries during this critical decade.

Genres: history, 20th-century, political-science, non-fiction, russia, academic

Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: historical-analysis, political-intrigue

Setting: Kremlin, Soviet Union, West, America

Period: 1980s

Paperback · Palgrave Macmillan

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