of Soviet life and culture both past and present. In this book Anthony Olcot has surveyed the trend of contemporary Soviet writings and opined "the impression conveyed fey recent Soviet publications is that the Gorbachev years have ushered in a period of unprecedented freedom, as writers may now discuss virtually anything, from religion to sex, from drugs to ecology, in violation of every canon of Soviet literature". Clearly social problems facing Soviet society are quite formidable and need urgent MIKHAIL GORBACHEV's pilotage of the affairs of the Soviet Union has activated the intellectual life of economists and other social scientists. At present, the Soviet society is experiencing an upsurge of many new and refreshing ideas that have shattered the traditional perceptions. Though the theoretical framework of 'perestroika' is yet to find a firm footing, it has already shaken the previous notions of a socialist society. Today, even other East European countries, China, Vietnam and Cuba find it necessary to have a fresh look at their understanding of the nature of socialism evolved by them in past.
