The End of Communist Power: Anti-Corruption Campaigns and Legitimation Crisis (Europe and the International Order)

Using an analytical, comparative approach that examines communist regimes from Moscow and Beijing to Havana and Kampuchea, Leslie Holmes argues that the extraordinarily rapid decline and collapse of communism in the USSR and Eastern Europe between 1989 and 1992 had its roots in the anti-corruption campaigns introduced in the early 1980s. Originally created to combat the disastrous economic reforms of the 1960s and '70s, the anti-corruption campaigns could not meet citizen expectations, and ultimately had the unintended effect of provoking a legitimation crisis throughout the communist world. Holmes studies this crisis in detail, investigating campaigns against official corruption in more than twenty communist states, with particular emphasis on the former USSR and the People's Republic of China. In a final chapter, Holmes locates the failure of communist power in the larger debate about the crisis of modernity, and argues--controversially--that the collapse of communism is not necessarily of much relevance to this alleged crisis.

HOLMES, Leslie

Oxford University Press

Using an analytical, comparative approach that examines communist regimes from Moscow and Beijing to Havana and Kampuchea, Leslie Holmes argues that the extraordinarily rapid decline and collapse of communism in the USSR and Eastern Europe between 1989 and 1992 had its roots in the anti-corruption campaigns introduced in the early 1980s. Originally created to combat the disastrous economic reforms of the 1960s and '70s, the anti-corruption campaigns could not meet citizen expectations, and ultimately had the unintended effect of provoking a legitimation crisis throughout the communist world. Holmes studies this crisis in detail, investigating campaigns against official corruption in more than twenty communist states, with particular emphasis on the former USSR and the People's Republic of China. In a final chapter, Holmes locates the failure of communist power in the larger debate about the crisis of modernity, and argues--controversially--that the collapse of communism is not necessarily of much relevance to this alleged crisis.

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

Although communism is a major political force in the modern world, there are very few books offering a comprehensive, up-to-date introduction to communist theory and practice. This book fills the gap by comparing communist theory with the diverse practices of more than twenty states under communist rule. Setting his discussions within a clear, comparative, and thematic framework, Leslie Holmes begins by examining the classic and most influential theories of communism - those of Marx, Engels, Stalin, and Mao. He then discusses how communists take and maintain power, the people and processes behind both legitimate and illegitimate politics in the different systems, the relations between communist states, and various approaches to the study and understanding of politics in the communist world.

Politics in the Communist World

Politics & Government

Although communism is a major political force in the modern world, there are very few books offering a comprehensive, up-to-date introduction to communist theory and practice. This book compares communist theory with the diverse practices of more than twenty states under communist rule. Setting his discussions within a clear, comparative and thematic framework, Holmes begins by examining the classic and most influential theories of communism--those of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao. He then discusses how communists take and maintain power, the people and processes behind both legitimate and illegitimate politics in the different systems, the relations between communist states, and various approaches to the study and understanding of politics in the communist world.

Reference

English as a Second Language

If now in decline since the tumultuous events of 1989, communism was without doubt the great political movement of the twentieth century--at its peak, more than a third of the world's population lived under communist rule--and it is still a powerful force in many areas of the world, most notably in the People's Republic of China. What is communism? Where did the idea come from and what attracted people to it? Is there a future for communism? This Very Short Introduction considers these questions and more in the search to explore and understand this controversial political force. Explaining the theory behind its ideology, and examining the history and mindset behind its political, economic and social structures, Leslie Holmes considers the evolution of communism from Marx's time, to its practice in the Bolshevik Revolution, to its collapse in 1989-91. Holmes highlights the inner dynamics, crises, and demise of communism as a global system, and introduces the major players in the communist world, including Marx, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao. About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam.

Communism: A Very Short Introduction

Corruption is one of the biggest global issues, ahead of extreme poverty, unemployment, the rising cost of food and energy, climate change, and terrorism. It is thought to be one of the principal causes of poverty around the globe. Its significance in the contemporary world cannot be undervalued. In this Very Short Introduction, Leslie Holmes looks the history of corruption across the millennia and considers why the international community has only highlighted it as a problem in the past two decades. Holmes explores the phenomenon from several different perspectives, from the cultural differences affecting how corruption is defined, its impact, its various causes, and the possible remedies. Providing evidence of corruption and considering ways to address it around the world, this is an important introduction to a significant and serious global issue. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Corruption: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

Philosophy

Comparing Police Corruption (Routledge Corruption and Anti-Corruption Studies)

Routledge

The End of Communist Power: Anti-Corruption Campaigns and Legitimation Crisis.

Melbourne University Press

The collapse of communist power may well be seen by future historians as the most significant event of the late twentieth century. It directly affected approximately twenty countries in three continents and brought about the eventual end of the Cold War. Yet there are very few comparative and theoretical analyses of the 1989-91 revolutions; this book seeks to remedy that situation. Holmes starts by considering official corruption and campaigns against it, seeing such campaigns as symptomatic of a legitimation crisis that developed in most of the communist world following the failure of the economic reforms of the 1960s and 1970s. He then considers other aspects of the growing legitimation crisis, and relates these directly to general crisis and collapse. In the conclusion, Holmes argues against those who have seen these revolutions as the final proof of the crisis of modernity.

Corruption in the Communist World: Anti-corruption Campaigns and Legitimation Crisis

Blackwell*publishers

In this new book, Leslie Holmes provides the first comprehensive single--authored analysis of post--communism. He highlights and explains both the positive and negative aspects of post--communism in the political, economic, and social spheres. Throughout, the policies and structures of late communism are compared to the situation existing now in the ex--communist countries. The result is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to one of the most major events this century.

Post-Communism: An Introduction

Polity

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Books by HOLMES, Leslie

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by HOLMES, Leslie. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The End of Communist Power: Anti-Corruption Campaigns and Legitimation Crisis (Europe and the International Order)

The End of Communist Power: Anti-Corruption Campaigns and Legitimation Crisis (Europe and the International Order)

Politics in the Communist World

Politics in the Communist World

Communism: A Very Short Introduction

Corruption: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

Comparing Police Corruption (Routledge Corruption and Anti-Corruption Studies)

The End of Communist Power: Anti-Corruption Campaigns and Legitimation Crisis.

Corruption in the Communist World: Anti-corruption Campaigns and Legitimation Crisis

Post-Communism: An Introduction