George W. Breslauer

Violence and Armed Conflicts in the Caucasus: An Introductory Comment

(2011). Violence and Armed Conflicts in the Caucasus: An Introductory Comment. Eurasian Geography and Economics: Vol. 52, No. 5, pp. 593-595.

Political Succession and the Nature of Political Competition in Russia

Political succession in Russia has definite rules, although the temptation for politicians to violate them is great. Issue polarization is muted within the electorate, if not among the pol iticians, who seek both to criticize the incumbent and to differentiate themselves from one another. Whether this tenuous balance can long survive internal or international shocks remains to be seen.

Observations on Soviet Imperial Disintegration

A prominent American specialist and observer of post-Soviet affairs examines the shifting balance between forces of disintegration and reintegration in the successor states of the former Soviet Union from the early 1990s to the present, with particular emphasis on actions taken by Russia. A concluding section focuses on observations relevant to an assessment of the extent to which recent trends toward reintegration may persist in the future. 8 references.

Reforming sacred institutions: the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Roman Catholic Church compared

Abstract The Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) are both conceptualized as sacred institutions, with many features of ideology/theology, hierocratic structure, and policy process in common. After periods of exclusion, they both also faced strong pressures to adapt to changes in the modern world, both internal and external, and to reduce status differentiation within the hierarchy and between the clergy/apparatchiki hierarchy and the laity/population. The present article compares and contrasts de-Stalinization under Khrushchev (1956–1964) with the results of Vatican II (1959–1965), and Gorbachev’s reforms (1985–1991) with the efforts of Pope Francis to reform the RCC (2013–present). The comparisons validate the explanatory power of the noted similarities between these sacred institutions, while also highlighting significant differences in structure, mission, and process, which explain why Pope Francis has adopted an incremental strategy for reform of the RCC, in contrast to Gorbachev’s revolutionary strategy for reforming the CPSU.

A Career in Soviet Studies

The right combination of mentors, happy accidents, experiences, and choices can lead to a rewarding career.

Specious arguments for the arms race

“God knows, its been frustrating to read some of these stories and not be able to say, ‘Thats untrue! Heres what the actual facts are….’ Its just been frustrating the hell out of me.”—Cyrus Vance