{"id":{"repo_id":"mo-state","oai_identifier":"oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1565"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mo-state/oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1565","repository":{"repo_id":"mo-state","name":"Missouri State University","base_url":"https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"Soviet Union: New Thinking Or Old Con?","abstract":"This thesis examines the current political and economic situation in the Soviet Union in the context of \"new thinking\" declared by the leadership. Changes and possible causes of change are considered as well as some of their objectives, and potential results. Mikhail Gorbachev's book, Perestroika, is used and examined as the principal source of his statements as to the cause and course of the reforms, intended at that time. These statements are analyzed with the assistance of history, contemporary events, and the views of other Soviet and non-Soviet commentators. The skeptic's perspective is given a special section due the fact that there is so much that is uncertain concerning the future of the Soviet Union and therefore for the security of the United States. There are certain positive signs of Soviet political and military reform; but there is still much that is unclear. This thesis attempts to provide an informed perspective toward understanding the current political, economic, and military situation of the Soviet Union.","abstract_html":"This thesis examines the current political and economic situation in the Soviet Union in the context of "new thinking" declared by the leadership. Changes and possible causes of change are considered as well as some of their objectives, and potential results. Mikhail Gorbachev's book, Perestroika, is used and examined as the principal source of his statements as to the cause and course of the reforms, intended at that time. These statements are analyzed with the assistance of history, contemporary events, and the views of other Soviet and non-Soviet commentators. The skeptic's perspective is given a special section due the fact that there is so much that is uncertain concerning the future of the Soviet Union and therefore for the security of the United States. There are certain positive signs of Soviet political and military reform; but there is still much that is unclear. This thesis attempts to provide an informed perspective toward understanding the current political, economic, and military situation of the Soviet Union.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Mers, Brett Layne"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies","degree_level":"Masters","degree_discipline":"Defense and Strategic Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["William Van Cleave"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":1991,"date_issued":"1991-12-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"1991-12-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:15:35Z","subjects":["Defense and Security Studies"],"languages":[],"rights":["© Brett Layne Mers"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/564","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["William Van Cleave"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Mers, Brett Layne"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Defense and Strategic Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Defense and Security Studies"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["© Brett Layne Mers"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/564"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This thesis examines the current political and economic situation in the Soviet Union in the context of \"new thinking\" declared by the leadership. Changes and possible causes of change are considered as well as some of their objectives, and potential results. Mikhail Gorbachev's book, Perestroika, is used and examined as the principal source of his statements as to the cause and course of the reforms, intended at that time. These statements are analyzed with the assistance of history, contemporary events, and the views of other Soviet and non-Soviet commentators. The skeptic's perspective is given a special section due the fact that there is so much that is uncertain concerning the future of the Soviet Union and therefore for the security of the United States. There are certain positive signs of Soviet political and military reform; but there is still much that is unclear. This thesis attempts to provide an informed perspective toward understanding the current political, economic, and military situation of the Soviet Union."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Soviet Union: New Thinking Or Old Con?"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["William Van Cleave"],"dc:creator":["Mers, Brett Layne"],"dc:description.abstract":["This thesis examines the current political and economic situation in the Soviet Union in the context of \"new thinking\" declared by the leadership. Changes and possible causes of change are considered as well as some of their objectives, and potential results. Mikhail Gorbachev's book, Perestroika, is used and examined as the principal source of his statements as to the cause and course of the reforms, intended at that time. These statements are analyzed with the assistance of history, contemporary events, and the views of other Soviet and non-Soviet commentators. The skeptic's perspective is given a special section due the fact that there is so much that is uncertain concerning the future of the Soviet Union and therefore for the security of the United States. There are certain positive signs of Soviet political and military reform; but there is still much that is unclear. This thesis attempts to provide an informed perspective toward understanding the current political, economic, and military situation of the Soviet Union."],"dc:identifier":["https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/564"],"dc:rights":["© Brett Layne Mers"],"dc:subject":["Defense and Security Studies"],"dc:title":["Soviet Union: New Thinking Or Old Con?"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Defense and Strategic Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:15:35Z"}