A Voice of Reform Essays

First Published in 1989. It has become common, both in Soviet and in Western writings about the USSR, to characterize the early 1980s (the immediate pre-Gorbachev period) as years of stagnation or, at the very least, near stagnation in the Soviet system. Since the sudden outburst of reformist thinking since 1985 it is clear there is actually an elaboration and reinforcement of concepts and ideas that had already begun to emerge in the pre-Gorbachev years. The writings of Tat 'iana I. Zaslavskaia, trained as an economist and today one of the most influential and best known Soviet sociologists, provide an illustration of this proposition.

China has been experiencing extraordinary economic growth for over two decades. Behind the remarkable statistics, however, it is facing a pressing issue: balancing its economic development needs with protecting its environmental resources. The environmental issue in China has a profound impact on the rest of the world as well, in such concerns as global warning and ethical and legal considerations about environmental enforcement. This book covers a broad range of topics, from specific environmental assessments in key sectors (i.e. desertification) to the policy implications of China's entry into the WTO. The contributors include scholars, government officials, business consultants, environmental science and technology experts, and others based in China and the United States. Sharing perspectives that reflect their diverse backgrounds, these experts offer valuable insights for handling the emerging opportunities and challenges of doing business in China.

Tat 'iana I. Zaslavskaia. Edited with an introduction by Murray Yanowitch.