by Vladimir Raskin by Vladimir Raskin Before perestroika was instituted by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987, human rights violations were a fundamental expression of totalitarian-state power in the Soviet Union. Paradoxically, they also contributed to the ultimate weakness of the Soviet regime, since Western pressure was in part founded on a critique of human rights violations. […]

You have reached an article for premium members. To read this article please login if you are already a TOL member. Or continue to read our content from the past month.

You can subscribe here to gain access.