Publisher's Synopsis
Hidden behind the ominous Iron Curtain, the Soviet Union had been defying the rest of the world for the most part of the 20th century. The monster seemed to thrive on war: born out of World War I, the communist regime not only survived World War II but grew stronger and swallowed half of Europe into its domain. Apart from occasional dark rumours, no one knew what life was really like on the other side of the Curtain. Despite all the efforts to topple the "Evil Empire," even the most optimistic observers never expected to actually win that hopeless battle. And just when it seemed the existing order of things would stay forever, the Soviet Union suddenly collapsed on its own, taking everyone by surprise. How and why did that happen? And now, with the equilibrium of fear gone, in which direction will the new, unipolar world move? "The Road to 2084" is an attempt to answer the first question and to reflect on the second. The Marxist theory of historical materialism served as a foundation for the communist experiment. In an unexpected twist of irony, Val Bakh uses his unorthodox view on that very theory to explain the demise of the "Evil Empire." Written in a concise, dynamic, and easy-to-understand language, "The Road to 2084" is an excellent primer for all political newbies. It is also a shocking, insider's view on some details of Soviet economy's inner mechanics largely unknown to the general public in the West. Even though clearly not too sympathetic towards the Left, "The Road to 2084" is trying to maintain objectivity and balance and therefore is not contraindicated for readers from either side of the political spectrum.
