I was always under the impression that Gorbachev was a naïve optimist who tried to reform the USSR too rapidly, but failed. So how exactly did he screw up and how could the USSR have been saved?

    • Thomas_Dankara [any,comrade/them]
      ·
      2 years ago

      thanks for the thoughtful response

      As for the artels (small local businesses), there are also multiple layers of councils and unions that regulate their activities. For example, you cannot have more than 20% of employees that do not possess the artel membership. The artel members also elect the head of their artels - effectively turning those businesses into cooperatives. They are allowed (mostly) unrestricted access to procure raw materials from the state for their needs, set prices based on contracts with their customers, manage their own finances etc. The point is to stimulate domestic industries that produce and diversify soft consumer goods to provide for the Soviet people (and also for exports).

      I found this part particularly interesting because it shows that the soviet economic policy had a lot more nuance to it than it is generally given credit for.