The article makes some good points. However, I think it messes up on why the regime choose a naive reformer. I don't think because the leadership were idealists. The communist idealists were all eliminated in the 1930's purge trials. The people in power were all cynical, power-hungry types.

I go with the standard explanation that it was because the economy had stalled out, and the leadership realized they had to make radical changes to try to rescue it.

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