The history of the Soviet economy is of central importance to how scholars and activists understand the fate of state socialism in the twentieth century and how scholars and diplomats understand contemporary security concerns in Eurasia and in Europe. For the former, state socialism's failure to fulfill its liberatory promises casts doubt on any project that aims to free humanity from the burden of commodified labor and the class relations to which it gives rise. Dr. Nealy demonstrates the Soviet economy's capacity to evolve in a way that bears striking resemblance to the sorts of changes experienced by much of the industrialized world during the same period. The result is a compelling interpretation of the history of the Soviet economy that offers new answers, but also provokes new questions, about the nature of state socialism in history and the prospects for state security in the contemporary world.

About the speaker:
James Nealy received his PhD from Duke University in May of 2022. A specialist in the social, economic, and intellectual history of the Soviet Union and the world.