Perestroika and the Rule of Law

"The cornerstone of the Gorbachev reforms is the formation of a 'rule-of-law State', contemplating for the first time in Russian history the building of a society founded upon legal principles and values shared by the leading Western democracies. Whatever the outcome, these efforts have given rise to a remarkable debate about the rule and role of law in society, the requisite democratic institutions essential to achieve the rule of law, the role of the Constitution, and the doctrine of separation of powers. In this pioneering dialogue, jurists of Anglo-American and Soviet socialist legal backgrounds explore the nature of law and the rule of law, the sources of law, the role of the Constitution, the meaning of pluralism, the status of political parties, glasnost and individual rights with a view to enriching the legislative process in the Soviet Union and developing comparative insights of larger import. The contributors are: W.E. Butler, R.Z. Livshits, M.D.A. Freeman, S.V. Polenina, E.V. Kumanin, A.D.H. Oliver, V.L.. Entin, N.P. Koldaeva, J. Henderson, V.P. Kazimirchuk, G. Drewry, V. Gobdanor and M.M. Slavin. The book will be of interest to all those concerned with the Soviet legal system, comparative law and the role of law in Soviet society"--Unedited summary from book jacket.