<div>Raymond Pearson describes and explains the creation, maintenance, and eventual demise of the Soviet regime across post-1945 Eastern Europe, setting the so-called "Soviet Empire" within the broader context of global imperialism and decolonization. This revised and updated second edition features an expanded final chapter, more detailed analysis of key themes and events, and an extended bibliography. New documentation has also been incorporated to provide a fuller historical account of what may prove to be the 'Last Empire'.<br></div>