The Soviet Era gives a succinct, refreshing overview of the Soviet Union from the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 to its disintegration in 1991. After a prologue recounting the attempted coup d'etat of August 1991 and the events which followed, it looks at the development and the decline of the Soviet Union, with the perspective of hindsight provided by the opening up of public analysis and discussion during Gorbachev's period of glasnost and perestroika.

Thus the years from 1917 to 1985 are discussed primarily in the light of their significance for glasnost, perestroika and the...

This new edition of Ponton and Gill's well-known text continues to provide students with a superlative guide to political concepts and institutions.

• The second edition has sold in excess of 5,500 copies
• Thoroughly revised and updated, also two completely new chapters on global politics
• Clearly structured for course use, each chapter length to suit a week's reading
• Clearly written and accessible, very lucid introduction to political concepts