Taking the Soviet collapse - the most cataclysmic event of the recent past - as a case study, this text engages students in the exercise of historical analysis, interpretation and explanation. In exploring the question posed by the title, the author introduces and applies such organizing concepts as great power conflict, imperial decline, revolution, ethnic conflict, colonialism, economic development, totalitarian ideology, and transition to democracy in a most accessible way. Questions and controversies, and extracts from documentary and literary sources, anchor the text at key points. This book is intended for use in history and political science courses on the Soviet Union or more generally on the 20th century.

Taking the Soviet collapse - the most cataclysmic event of the recent past - as a case study, this text engages students in the exercise of historical analysis, interpretation and explanation. In exploring the question posed by the title, the author introduces and applies such organizing concepts as great power conflict, imperial decline, revolution, ethnic conflict, colonialism, economic development, totalitarian ideology, and transition to democracy in a most accessible way. Questions and controversies, and extracts from documentary and literary sources, anchor the text at key points. This book is intended for use in history and political science courses on the Soviet Union or more generally on the 20th century.

Changing Society: A Social and Spiritual Vision for the Year 2020 and Beyond addresses the five traditional social institutions (marriage and family, religion, education, politics, and economics) as well as other important social institutions (health care, race, ethnicity, and technology). The editor and contributors provide keen social insights as they consider the current dynamics as well as the historical and future issues of each of these social institutions. This book is unique in that each of the writers approaches their topic from vast professional expertise and from great spiritual awareness (that is, such things as values, essence, meaning, and purpose). With the intention of focus and clarity and by projecting into the year 2020, one can appreciate how Vision 2020 as part of the book's title captures a double entendre.