"The breakdown and subsequent break-up of the Soviet Union into fifteen newly independent states has provided a unique opportunity to analyse changing state-society relations, institutional change in general, and more specifically, the impact of state policy on institutional change. Sue Davis addresses one of the most puzzling elements of the Soviet collapse. When the Soviet Union broke up some of its institutions or pillars collapsed but others did not - in particular, Communist trade unions survived.

What accounted for this difference? And how did these institutions fare in the new system? Did they prevent competing institutions from developing?".

"This study argues that resources drive the choice of union leaders. The changing political and economic system presents trade union leaders with choices to make about the nature of their institutions and how they will respond to those changes. This dilemma can be conceptualized as a choice between the 'big gamble' - abandoning the Communist official union structure - and the status quo - remaining within it."--BOOK JACKET.