--- product_id: 8424781 title: "Armageddon Averted: The Soviet Collapse, 1970-2000" brand: "stephen kotkin" price: "245 Lei" currency: RON in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.ro/products/8424781-armageddon-averted-the-soviet-collapse-1970-2000 store_origin: RO region: Romania --- # Armageddon Averted: The Soviet Collapse, 1970-2000 **Brand:** stephen kotkin **Price:** 245 Lei **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Armageddon Averted: The Soviet Collapse, 1970-2000 by stephen kotkin - **How much does it cost?** 245 Lei with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ro](https://www.desertcart.ro/products/8424781-armageddon-averted-the-soviet-collapse-1970-2000) ## Best For - stephen kotkin enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted stephen kotkin brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Armageddon Averted: The Soviet Collapse, 1970-2000 ## Images ![Armageddon Averted: The Soviet Collapse, 1970-2000 - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/519gc-z4nkL.jpg) ![Armageddon Averted: The Soviet Collapse, 1970-2000 - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tv6p6SRoL.jpg) ![Armageddon Averted: The Soviet Collapse, 1970-2000 - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/413Sg4zmNML.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good analysis of an extraordinary political and economic collapse *by S***7 on Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2018* I have read the first two of Kotkin's volumes on Stalin, and I eagerly look forward to the third. I bought this book because I thought he would help me understand the collapse of the Soviet Union. His understanding of the collapse revolves around three concepts: (1) Gorbachev's "romantic idealism," errantly hoping that through perestroika and glasnost the Soviet Union could be reframed around "humanistic socialism," which was said to be Lenin's initial ideal; (2) how this "romantic idealism" undercut the entire power structure of the Soviet Union, because free thought and press challenged the underpinnings of the Soviet Union; and (3) how the former apparatchiks of the Communist party, and others in the social elite, pillaged the State's entire (but outdated and antiquated) economy in the "privatization" of the country's assets. In this historical process, the Soviet Union splintered completely, and Russia, an agglomeration of fifty-some nationalities, emerged from the ashes. Kotkin does a great job describing the economic implosion and catastrophic GDP shrinkage, which was stopped only by a re-collection of legal power by the presidency and prime minister of Russia, our favorite guy, Vladimir Putin.Kotkin is amazed that during the implosion the Russian "power structure" of military, internal police (KGB), and regular police did not also blow inward. While the Army was shattered, Kotkin believes that the command structure remained relatively intact, so that no nuclear armageddon occurred.I enjoyed this book. I also agree with the reviewer that it was harder to read than Kotkin's other books. The concepts of macroeconomic theory and the specifics of the political structures--I found this hard to understand, so I read these sections twice Also, I was not clear where all the newly enriched apparatchiks came from other than a fuzzy "educated elite." ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Superb and exciting *by T***A on Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2023* Prof. Kotkin is a national treasure.This short account of the fall of the Soviet Union moves at a fast pace, while providing depth and insights.Breathtaking. Should be read by anyone with an interest in modern world history. The book is also valuable as background and prelude to the current war in Ukraine. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good, Concise History of the Soviet Collapse *by T***C on Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2006* Stephen Kotkin's "Armageddon Averted" is a good, concise history of the Soviet collage from 1970-2000. Kotkin has two themes that he repeatedly touches on: 1) that the Soviet system collapsed from within and 2) that the collapse was remarkably peaceful. Kotkin's work is very good, although at only 200 pages, it is a cursory account of the Soviet collapse.Kotkin focuses almost entirely on the Soviet system's inner workings. He describes how the Soviet system was destined to collapse from within and would have collapsed earlier had oil prices not increased in the 1970s, allowing the Soviet Union to continue to finance itself. Only with the coming of the new generation - Gorbachev - did anyone in the Soviet leadership have the courage to realize that the system must be changed. However, when Gorbachev tried to save the Soviet Union by liberalizing part of society, he set loose powers and forces and quickly lost control of the country.It was at this point, Kotkin argues, that the real miracle occurred: while the Soviet Union had used military force to keep Hungary and Czechoslovakia in its sphere, and had an entire security apparatus that had perfected the police state, the Soviet dissolution was almost completely bloodless. The Soviet leadership (or reactionaries in the government) did not crack down on its own citizens, and neither did it lash out at the rest of the world in either a conventional world designed to foment nationalism nor launch a spiteful nuclear strike.This is a very good book, but it is lacking on details. Kotkin's writes from the perspective of a textbook, making sweeping statements and broad generalizations without much supporting argument. The book also lacks any personal look at the fall of the Soviet Union (other than occasional anecdotes about the leadership), unlike the excellent (but very different) "Lenin's Tomb." Kotkin also completely dismisses any credit to the United States or any other foreign power or policy for the Soviet collapse. Despite these drawbacks, though, this is an excellent book for anyone interested in Soviet/Russian history, modern history, or political science and foreign policy. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.ro/products/8424781-armageddon-averted-the-soviet-collapse-1970-2000](https://www.desertcart.ro/products/8424781-armageddon-averted-the-soviet-collapse-1970-2000) --- *Product available on Desertcart Romania* *Store origin: RO* *Last updated: 2026-05-18*