Yakov Feygin, author of "Building a Ruin," dives into the economic struggles of the Soviet Union and parallels with contemporary China. He discusses the strengths and limitations of Stalin's economic model and Khrushchev's shift towards competition with capitalism. The conversation highlights how technological optimism inspired Soviet reforms, many of which echo in Chinese policies today. Feygin also unveils the ideological battles within the Soviet leadership and the historical insights that can inform China's future trajectory.
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insights INSIGHT
Stalinist Model's Logic
The Stalinist economic model, while seemingly chaotic, had an underlying logic tied to the Soviet Union's global revolutionary project.
This model aimed at rapid modernization and independence from capitalism, but its effectiveness waned as the global landscape shifted.
insights INSIGHT
Stalinist Modernization
Stalinist modernization shared similarities with other modernization efforts, focusing on rapid industrialization through high investment rates.
The Stalinist model, however, uniquely involved repression and genocide against the peasantry to achieve these goals.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Stalin's View on Planning
Stalin admitted that the planned economy wasn't a desired outcome but a necessity to prevent collapse.
He viewed planning as essential for maintaining independence from capitalist encirclement.
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Building a Ruin explores the Soviet Union's transition from Stalinist mass mobilization to a consumer society, highlighting the contradictions within its political economy. The book delves into how Soviet institutions were reimagined for 'peaceful socioeconomic competition' during the Cold War, leading to stagnation and eventual collapse. It provides insights into the legacy of these reforms and their impact on contemporary Russian politics.
From Development to Democracy
Dan Slater
Joseph Wong
From Development to Democracy explores the uneven path of democratization in Asia, despite rapid economic growth. Dan Slater and Joseph Wong argue that authoritarian regimes can pursue democratic reforms proactively when they are confident in their power and stability, as seen in countries like Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. The book challenges conventional wisdom by showing that democratization can occur through strength rather than weakness.
Prestige, Manipulation, and Coercion
Joseph Torigian
Joseph Torigian's book challenges traditional narratives of succession in authoritarian regimes, highlighting the roles of personal prestige, manipulation, and coercion in determining power outcomes. Through case studies of the Soviet Union after Stalin and China after Mao, Torigian argues that these factors were more decisive than policy differences or institutional processes.
The struggle to save the Soviet economy
Mikhail Gorbachev and the collapse of the USSR
Chris Miller
This book provides a detailed examination of the economic reforms initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev and the political and economic challenges that ultimately led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. It explores how Gorbachev's reforms were hindered by powerful vested interests and economic crises, mirroring similar struggles in China during the same period.
Modern Times
A History of the World from the Twenties to the Nineties
Paul Johnson
In this book, Paul Johnson provides an in-depth historical analysis of the 20th century, starting from the aftermath of World War I and ending with the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe. The book covers significant events such as the rise of totalitarian regimes, the impacts of World War I and II, the Cold War, and the influence of religion and ideology on politics and society. Johnson also explores major scientific and technological advancements and their effects on human perception and behavior. The book is written from a conservative perspective and has been praised for its profound influence on intellectual thinking[4][5].
Collapse
How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
Jared DIAMOND
In 'Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed', Jared Diamond examines the collapse of past societies, such as the Anasazi, the Maya, and the Norse colonies on Greenland, due to factors like environmental damage, climate change, hostile neighbors, loss of trading partners, and the society's response to these challenges. Diamond argues that environmental concerns are crucial to a society's success and that the way a society responds to its environmental problems is often the decisive factor in its survival or collapse. The book also draws parallels between historical collapses and current global issues, offering practical lessons and solutions to avoid similar catastrophes in the present and future[1][3][5].
Why did the Soviet Union collapse? Which lessons from Cold War history are relevant for China’s future?
To discuss the successes, failures, and strategies of Soviet leaders, ChinaTalk interviewed Yakov Feygin. Feygin is the author of Building a Ruin: The Cold War Politics of Soviet Economic Reform, which examines how various Soviet leaders, institutions, and economists attempted to boost Soviet growth and national power.
Co-hosting today is Jon Sine, writer of the Cogitations substack.
We discuss:
The strengths and limitations of the Stalinist economic model,
Khrushchev’s shift to “peaceful competition” with capitalism,
Alternative policy paths that could have saved the Soviet Union,
How technological optimism shaped Soviet reform efforts, inspiring the CCP in the process,
Parallels between the institutions of the Soviet Union and those of contemporary China,
The battle between political scientists and historians when analyzing the political economy of authoritarian states.
Outro music: Building a Ruin - Skyclad (Youtube link)
Links to all the books and papers referenced in this show are available on the ChinaTalk substack.
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