Volume 34, Number 9 · May 28, 1987
Gorbachev the Bold
By Peter B. Reddaway
Shadows and Whispers: Power Politics Inside the Kremlin from Brezhnev to Gorbachev
by Dusko Doder
Random House, 339 pp., $19.95
In the autumn of 1985 I suggested in these pages[1] that Soviet Union might be about 'to change its course.' Its leaders might be deciding, I felt, 'that economic progress is more important to their long-term interests than grimly hanging on to every form of police control while their political legitimacy slowly ebbs away.' Mr. Gorbachev would probably continue to dismiss old officials and build his own power base; then he would 'launch a program of reforms.' He seemed to realize that 'economic reforms will never be really effective without social and political reforms too.' As a result, Soviet professional people could now 'hope for more constructive relations with Gorbachev's regime.' Moreover, the reform coalition in which they could be expected to take part would be greatly strengthened if he also made 'concessions to the dissidents.' In such a situation the latter were, I thought, 'sure to respond positively, at least at first.' A logical concomitant to all this would be 'a broad relaxation of cultural controls.' For the demoralizing drain of outstanding cultural talent to the West—through emigration and defection—had become 'a national issue waiting to be grasped by a bold politician.'
Review, 5836 words
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