Defining documents in world history: the rise and fall of the Soviet Union / editor, Steven L. Danver, PhD.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Danver, Steven Laurence, editor.

Series:

Defining documents in world history

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Soviet Union--Politics and government.

Soviet Union.

Soviet Union--History.

Genre:

primary sources.

Primary sources.

Physical Description:

2 volumes : illustrations (some color), maps, portraits, facsimiles ; 26 cm

Other Title:

Also known as: Collapse of the Soviet Union

Rise and fall of the Soviet Union

Place of Publication:

Ipswich, Massachusetts : Salem Press, a division of EBSCO Information Services, Inc., [2025]

Summary:

"This collection of documents provides a comprehensive exploration of the key events, individuals, and ideological shifts that shaped the Soviet Union's rise and eventual collapse. The pre-Soviet intellectual and political movements that paved the way for the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, included pivotal texts like The Communist Manifesto (1848) and Lenin's What Is to Be Done? (1902), which set the foundation for the Soviet state, which would emerge from the chaos of World War I and the October Revolution. The entries trace the evolution of the U.S.S.R. through major milestones, such as the Russian Civil War, Stalin's totalitarian regime, the Great Patriotic War (World War II), and the Cold War, highlighting both the domestic policies and global influence of the Soviet Union. Critical moments like the Cuban Missile Crisis, the space race, and détente with the West illustrate the superpower's geopolitical significance. The documents also illuminate the internal fractures that led to the Soviet Union's demise, including Gorbachev's reforms of glasnost and perestroika, the 1991 coup attempt, and the emergence of nationalist movements within the Soviet republics. The dissolution of the U.S.S.R. on December 31, 1991, marked the birth of 15 independent states, reshaping the political landscape of Eurasia. Special attention is given to the aftermath of the collapse, from Boris Yeltsin's efforts to redefine Russia's role on the world stage to the diplomatic challenges of securing the former Soviet nuclear arsenal. The rise of Vladimir Putin and Russia's resurgence as a global power, including its actions in Ukraine, underscore the enduring legacy of the Soviet era. These volumes present sixty-four primary source and historical documents, including book excerpts, court opinions, debates, interview letters, and more. Each document provides insights into the founding of the Soviet Union, the evolution of the Soviet Union, and the eventual collapse of what was once a world super power. Modern issues are explored within the historical context of the Soviet Union such as the Russian-Ukrainian War" -- Publisher's website.

Contents:

Volume 1. The pre-Soviet era and the Bolshevik revolution

The early Soviet era and World War II

The early cold war. Volume 2. The late cold war and détente

Perestroika and collapse

Post-Soviet Russia.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9798891793729

9798891793736

9798891793743

OCLC:

1454851646

Publisher Number:

90101944236