The Industrialisation of Soviet Russia 3: The Soviet Economy in Turmoil 1929-1930 - (Industrialization of Soviet Russia (Paper Back)) by R W Davies

Book Synopsis

In 1929-30, the 'spinal year' of the first five-year plan, a vast investment programme began the transformation of the Soviet Union from a peasant country into a great industrial power. This book, the third part of The Industrialisation of Soviet Russia, re-examines the breakdown of the mixed economy. In those days of heroism and enthusiasm, hunger and repression, crucial Soviet economic and political institutions were established, and are only now being effectively challenged by Gorbachev's revolution. While complementing the previous two volumes of this author's work, the book is designed to be read independently. It sheds new light on a dramatic moment in Soviet history and in the formation of the Soviet system.

Review Quotes

'R.W. Davies lays bare the chaotic reality behind the images and illuminates both the successes of the new centralized economy and its colossal dislocations ... Davies is the foremost economic historian of Stalin's Soviet Union ... Though no historical work is ever 'definitive', Davies' three volumes on the industrialization of Soviet Russia are foundation stones for any further studies.' - Ronald Suny, Business History Review

'Future generations of university students may well follow courses on comparative Russian/Soviet perestroika studies from Peter the Great to Gorbachev. If so, they will find The Soviet Economy in Turmoil an essential text.' - David Dyker, Slavonic and East European Review

About the Author

R.W. DAVIES is Emeritus Professor in the Centre for Russian and East European Studies at the University of Birmingham, of which he was previously Director. In the course of his research, he has paid many visits to Russia to study in Moscow and St Petersburg libraries and in the state and former party archives. His publications include The Development of the Soviet Budgetary System, Soviet History in the Gorbachev Revolution, Soviet History in the Yeltsin Era, The Socialist Offensive 1929-1930, The Soviet Collective Farm, 1929-1933. He is at present preparing, jointly with S G Wheatcroft, a study of the Soviet Famine of 1932-3 based on recently-released Russian and Ukranian archives. He collaborated with E H Carr on vols 9 and 10 of A History of Soviet Russia.