Taking Stock of Shock: Social Consequences of the 1989 Revolutions
“Ghodsee and Orenstein have written a provocative book on what they argue are the different transitions people across the post-Soviet sphere have experienced over the past decades. Drawing on an impressive array of economic, demographic, public opinion, and ethnographic data, they critically analyze the emergence of stark inequalities that have generated tremendous hardships for many and enormous benefits for some. Taking Stock of Shock is sure to stimulate debate among scholars and policy makers alike.”—Gail Kligman, Distinguished Professor of Sociology, UCLA
“From a starting point of cacophony, where different disciplines and data seem to depict the post-Soviet transition as either a grand success or an absolute failure, Ghodsee and Orenstein seam together a convincing narrative where both achievements and disappointments can coexist.The book’s focus on widening inequality allows reconciling these opposing views and providingcrucial insights not only for scholars of transition countries but also for observers and policymakers in other regions.”—Maurizio Bussolo, Lead Economist, World Bank
Watch: Book Launch on June 7, 2021 at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Read:: Reviews in The American Conservative, Social Europe, Review of Democracy
