The Fall of the Soviet Union occurred after decades of economic chaos and a nuclear arms race with the West. Through thoughtful narrative supported by fully documented quotes this title begins with A Brief History of the Soviet Union's Collapse and then examines these questions: How Did Czarist Policies Contribute to the Rise of Communism? How Did Soviet Economic Polices Lead to Collapse? What Role Did the Cold War Weapons Buildup Play in the Soviet Collapse? How Did the Collapse of the Soviet Union Lead to War and Ethnic Conflict?