Moscow's Heavy Shadow: The Violent Collapse of the USSR

Moscow's Heavy Shadow explores the collapse of the USSR from the perspective of Soviet citizens, highlighting the economic collapse and violence that resulted from reform efforts. Dushanbe, Tajikistan, experienced skyrocketing unemployment, a depleted budget, and political conflict that became violent and bloody. The war in Tajikistan was rooted in the reform and collapse of the Soviet economy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 294 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Moscow's Heavy Shadow delves into the profound impact of the collapse of the Soviet Union on the lives of millions of its citizens, portraying it as a period marked by abject poverty and violence. Mikhail Gorbachev and the leaders of the USSR viewed the years of reform preceding the collapse as a chance for rebuilding, rejuvenation, and openness (glasnost). However, for the people living in provincial cities across the Soviet Union, these reforms brought about rapid change, economic collapse, and unrest. Isaac McKean Scarborough, in his book, focuses on Dushanbe, Tajikistan, as a case study of the devastating effects of these reforms. Dushanbe witnessed a staggering surge in unemployment, a depleted budget, and streets filled with angry young men struggling to provide for their families. Tajikistan, lacking financial and military resources, found itself unprepared to confront the wave of populist politicians who capitalized on the economic collapse and social discontent, seeking to gain power. By May 1992, political conflict escalated into violent clashes, engulfing the entire country in a bloody war.

Moscow's Heavy Shadow explores the origins and circumstances that led to this war, shedding light on the reform and collapse of the Soviet economy that laid the foundation for it. The book meticulously examines the political, economic, and social factors that contributed to the unraveling of the Soviet Union, highlighting the complex interplay between external pressures, internal struggles, and the ideological contradictions within the communist system. Through its detailed narrative and analysis, Moscow's Heavy Shadow provides a comprehensive understanding of the profound consequences of the collapse of the Soviet Union on the lives of its citizens and the broader geopolitical landscape.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501771026