Edited by eminent historian Ronald Grigor Suny, this unique collection of primary documents and important scholarly articles frames both the revolutionary changes and broad continuities in Soviet history. Organized chronologically and covering political, social, and cultural history from a variety of viewpoints, selections include official pronouncements and dissident manifestos, public speeches, private letters, and previously un-translated documents. An introductory essay provides the broad outlines of Soviet history, while chapter introductions summarize the main features and historical debates of each period.

New to the Second Edition

* Ten new essays and documents, including Jochen Hellbeck's "The Urge to Struggle On" (2006) and "Cars, Cars, and More Cars" by Lewis H. Siegelbaum (2008)
* A new chapter (10) on Russia and the former Soviet states in the twenty-first century, as well as additional readings on women and gender
* More sections on foreign policy and the Cold War