Monday, Dec. 07, 1992

Time Magazine Contents Page

THE WEEK 22

32

COVER: A Miracle Wrapped in Danger

Democracy, however primitive, has come to Russia. Now its leader is contending with the adversities of nature, economics and politics, and the outcome has immense implications for the world.

36

POLITICS: Holding Russia's Fate in His Hands

In a country that lacks democratic institutions to ensure the future of reforms, the President so dominates the political landscape that as Yeltsin goes, so goes the nation

40

OPPOSITION GROUPS: The Dark Forces

Those who want to turn back the clock are gathering strength

42

POLICY: A $2 Trillion Wish List

The West can't give Russia all it wants, but could do more

44

ENVIRONMENT: Nuclear Time Bombs

Chernobyl, radioactive subs and dumps are still ticking

48

THE MILITARY: An Army Out of Work

Conversion of the defense sector is a painful metamorphosis

50

VIEWS: Communism's Shattered Dream

Years of hope end in shabbiness and despair

60

THE ECONOMY: Why It Still Doesn't Work

Sailing between reform and reaction can be perilous

62

FINANCES: Life in the Working Class

How a typical family barely scrapes by

64

THE BALTICS: Cold and Fed Up

Independence brought great expectations, then disillusion

66

CULTURE: A Mind of Their Own

Russians grapple with the mystery of their historic identity

REVIEWS

THEATER Backstage at the making of a movie masterpiece 71

CINEMA Whitney Houston makes an appealing film debut 71

MUSIC A controversial Lucia di Lammermoor 72

The best album yet from 10,000 Maniacs 74

BOOKS A great physicist gets the biography he deserves 76

Stephen King's latest misses the real horrors of life 81

SHORT TAKES 83

DEPARTMENTS

MANAGING EDITOR'S LETTER 4

LETTERS 8

GRAPEVINE 21

MILESTONES 30

PEOPLE 85

ESSAY 86

COVER: Photograph by Margaret Bourke-White/LIFE of workers at a collective farm near Moscow, taken in 1941 during her third trip to Russia.

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