USSR and PRC both recognized the deficiencies of their command economies around the same time; perestroika was Brezhnev’s idea. The key difference was western

USSR and PRC both recognized the deficiencies of their command economies around the same time; perestroika was Brezhnev’s idea. The key difference was western companies were happy to (quietly) transfer expertise and technology to the Chinese. In the late 80s the international oil giants were helping the Chinese drill for oil while the Soviets were going (more) broke trying to drill theirs on their own, while Bush claimed “no bailout for Gorbachev”. The west squandered a chance to implement a “Marshall plan” and make a strong ally out of the Soviets. Instead they chuckled at its collapse and danced on its grave, while rewarding the Chinese for choosing the path of authoritarianism, and here we are.