The Rise and Fall of Communism
  • Published: 1 June 2010
  • ISBN: 9781845950675
  • Imprint: Vintage
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 736
  • RRP: $36.99

The Rise and Fall of Communism

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1 Jun 2010
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1 Jun 2010
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The definitive and groundbreaking account of the revolutionary ideology that changed the modern world.

Winner of the 2010 W.J.M. Mackenzie Prize for Best Political Science Book of the Year 2010

The relentless rise of Communism was the most momentous political development of the first half of the twentieth century. No political change has been more fundamental than its demise in Europe and its decline elsewhere. In this hugely acclaimed book Archie Brown provides an indispensable history that examines the origins of the ideology, its development in different countries, its collapse in many states following the Soviet perestroika, and its current incarnations around the globe.

The Rise and Fall of Communism explains how and why Communists came to power; how they were able, in a variety of countries on different continents to hold on to power for so long; and what brought about the downfall of so many Communist systems. A groundbreaking work from an internationally renowned specialist, this is the definitive study of the most remarkable political and human story of our times.
  • Published: 1 June 2010
  • ISBN: 9781845950675
  • Imprint: Vintage
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 736
  • RRP: $36.99
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About the author

Archie Brown

Archie Brown is a British political scientist and historian. He is Emeritus Professor of Politics at Oxford University and Emeritus Fellow of St Antony's College, Oxford. A Fellow of the British Academy since 1991, Professor Brown was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2003. He has written widely on Soviet and Communist politics, the Cold War, and political leadership.

Also by Archie Brown

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Praise for The Rise and Fall of Communism

This book is the crowning achievement of Archie Brown's career... This volume will remain a definitive study of communism... Thank you, Archie Brown

Oleg Gordievsky, Literary Review

The breadth of his scholarship and research is hugely impressive... Brown offers clever insights, as well as some fascinating new revelations

Evening Standard

Comprehensive and impressive

Financial Times

Archie Brown tells the history of these 70-odd years...with poise, a sense of balance and a judicious understanding of the differences between the varieties of communisms

Donald Sassoon, Guardian

His conclusions neatly balance the equally pertinent questions of why Communist systems collapse, and why they lasted so long

Stephen Howe, Independent

A clear and expert account of the rise and fall of communism

Marcus Earl, Weekend Review

A stimulating read, which provides valuable insights

Adam Fabry, Socialist Review

Superb...a hugely readable book

Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph

At its peak, communism controlled one third of the human race...Brown's scholarly, well-paced and critical overview contributes brilliantly to a reasoned reassessment

Sunday Times

To understand one of the central stories of the 20th century - read Brown's book

Independent

One of Britain's leading experts on communism provides a grimly humorous and richly anecdotal study

George Pendles, Financial Times, History books of the year

Scholarly, well-paced and critical...few can match him for insider knowledge

Tristram Hunt, Sunday Times

Balanced, insightful, illuminated by intriguing detail and flashes of humour, this worldwide panorama is a miracle of compression

Christopher Hirst, Independent

This superb book gives the history of the ideology and the reasons for its decline

Simon Heffer, Telegraph

It reads like Sovietology rendered by John le Carré

Timothy Snyder

The book is well written with flashes of mordant humour and sufficient records of personal foibles and institutional stupidity to keep the reader going through some dreadful moments of human history

Political Studies Review
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