The Soviet Space Program and International Collaboration during Perestroika, 1985-1991

This book examines the evolution of the Soviet space sector during ‘Perestroika,’ a period of economic and political reform in the USSR during the late 1980s. By analysing the economic, political, and social transformations that occurred in the Soviet Union, the author sheds light on the USSR’s evolving role on the international stage. The book meticulously explores the interplay between foreign and domestic policy and its impact on the Soviet space program. Key concepts include the complexity of establishing Soviet-European relationships amidst bloc confrontations, ideological disparities and differing scientific approaches, and the commercialisation of the Soviet space sector.  Ideal for scholars of international relations, history, and space studies, this book contributes to debates on the role of science diplomacy in shaping international relations and geopolitics.

1: Introduction.- 2: Gorbachev's Policy in the Rocket and Space Sector.- 3:  European-Soviet Collaboration in Space.- 4: The Most Significant Projects.- 5: Commercialisation of the Soviet Space Sector.- 6: Conclusions.

Olga Dubrovina is a Research Fellow in the Department of Political Science, Law, and International Studies at the University of Padua, in Italy. She also lectures on the history of international relations and Russian history at the State University of Milan.