Capitalism, Communism And Coexistence
This recorded version of several days' talk covers most of the principal economic issues of the day, along with some comments on armaments and superpower attitudes. Mr. Menshikov, who has been an economist for the U.N. and for the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party and is now an editor of the World Marxist Review, is a strong supporter of the Gorbachev reforms and argues that if they succeed they will produce superior socialism, not a variant of capitalism. Mr. Galbraith has some kind things to say about markets, prices and entrepreneurs, along with some suggestions for improvement (with some differences from his past views). Both are great enemies of bureaucracy, governmental and corporate. Not too much of what they say is highly original. But the book makes a good sophisticated primer about present and future issues, although the dialogue form does not really do justice to two good talkers.
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Will Russia be run by democrats or oligarchs? The signs are worrying. The West would rather not dwell on the extent to which Russia's market is dominated by robber barons and permeated by crime and corruption. Russia's democracy is weak, with unfair election campaigns, a compromised media, and few checks on the presidency. The West cannot afford to let Russia descend into chaos, which might mean losing control of Russia's arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, but its two-faced NATO expansion policy hurts the democrats' chances.
Three issues preoccupy Asia's leaders (1) economic strategy (2) political stability versus greater openness (3) regionalism. The accelerating socio-economic revolution presents challenges to both the Marxist and the democratic states. There is a requirement for increased public participation, greater local autonomy and more regional and international interaction. On balance the odds favouring a largely peaceful revolution are lengthening.

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