When Ideas Fail (Economic Thought, the Failure of Transition and the Rise of Institutional Instability in Post-Soviet Russia)

In the history of Russian economic ideas, a peculiar mix of anthropocentrism and holism provided fertile breeding ground for patterns of thought that were in potential conflict with the market. These patterns, did not render the emergence of capitalism in Russia impossible. But they entailed a deep intellectual division between adherents and opponents of Russia’s capitalist transformation that made Russia’s social evolution unstable and vulnerable to external shocks.

This study offers an ideational explanation of Russia’s relative failure to establish a functioning market economy and thus sets up a new and original perspective for discussion. In post-Soviet Russia, a clash between imported foreground ideas and deep domestic background ideas has led to an ideational division among the elite of the country. Within economic science, this led to the emergence of two thought collectives, (in the sense of Ludvik Fleck), with entirely different understandings of social reality.

This ideational division translated into incoherent policy measures, the emergence of institutional hybrids and thus, all in all, into institutional instability. Empirically, the book is based on a systematic, qualitative analysis of the writings of Soviet/Russian economists between 1987 and 2012.

This groundbreaking book makes an important contribution to Central Eastern and Eastern European area studies and to the current debate on ideas and institutions in the social sciences.

This book title, When Ideas Fail (Economic Thought, the Failure of Transition and the Rise of Institutional Instability in Post-Soviet Russia), ISBN: 9780367891121, by Joachim Zweynert, published by Taylor & Francis (December 12, 2019) is available in paperback. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.

Unlike Amazon and other retailers who may also offer When Ideas Fail (Economic Thought, the Failure of Transition and the Rise of Institutional Instability in Post-Soviet Russia) books on their website, we specialize in large quantities and provide personal service, from trusted, experienced, friendly people in Portland, Oregon. We offer a Price Match Guarantee, and QuickQuote form, to make purchasing quick and easy.

Prefer to work with a human being when you order When Ideas Fail (Economic Thought, the Failure of Transition and the Rise of Institutional Instability in Post-Soviet Russia) books in bulk? Our Book Specialists are standing by Monday-Friday 8-5 PST, ready to help!