Abstract
When, on 25 February 1986, Mikhail Gorbachev launched the programme of perestroika, he presided over what was known as the ‘world socialist system’. This was made up of a core of 16 established states located in central and eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America. In addition, there were seven African states which defined themselves as ‘Marxist-Leninist’. These societies all had in common a centrally planned economy, a hegemonic communist party and a comprehensive state-based system of social welfare, science and education. They had large, well-organized armed forces and the USSR was equipped with nuclear weapons. State socialism was a world system and a competitor to capitalism.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes
See, for example, David Lipton and Jeffrey Sachs, ‘The Strategy of Transition’ in David Kennett and Marc Lieberman, The Road to Capitalism: Economic Transformation in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union (Fort Worth: Dryden Press, 1992), pp. 350–4.
Francis Fukuyama, ‘The End of History?’ The National Interest, Summer (1989) 3–4.
David Lane, ‘Emerging Varieties of Capitalism in Former State Socialist Societies’, Competition and Change, 9, 3 (September 2005) 238–9.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2007 David Lane
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lane, D. (2007). Introduction: Outcomes of Transformation. In: Lane, D. (eds) The Transformation of State Socialism. Studies in Economic Transition. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230591028_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230591028_1
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-35592-1
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-59102-8
eBook Packages: Palgrave Economics & Finance CollectionEconomics and Finance (R0)