IngentaConnect Revolution, class and globalisation in the transition from state ...

Abstract:

With the disintegration of communist rule in central Europe and the USSR, the social formation of state socialism ended. What has followed is described in Western sociology and political science as a transformation or a 'transition' to democracy, markets and capitalism. The paper considers traditional Marxist approaches to the transition to capitalism and criticises the model of state capitalism as well as the world system approach. In contrast, it is contended that three social classes played a major role in the fall of state socialism and a move to capitalism: endogenously - the acquisition and administrative classes, and exogenously - the global political class. The political leadership of Gorbachev was crucial in tilting power away from the loyal administrative class. It is argued that different combinations of these class groupings determine the type of social formation which is evolving. The globalisation of capitalist companies and the direct role of global economic forces had little importance under state socialism, but have had more significance since 1989. With respect to the penetration of transnational companies, important differences have developed between the central European countries and those of the former USSR. Barriers limit the spread of global capitalism: among these are disparities between the interests of local domestic and export industries, the legacy of state socialism and the continued presence of state ownership. In this context, global capitalism is evolving in central Europe whereas in Russia and Ukraine there is a hybrid social formation containing elements of state economic control, national capitalism and global capitalism.

Keywords: revolution; social class; globalisation; transition; state socialism; Russia

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/1461669042000327054

Affiliations: 1: Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Free School Lane Cambridge CB2 3RQ UK

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Revolution, class and globalisation in the transition from state socialism