On the Verge of the Collapse of Empire: Images of Alexander Kerensky and Mikhail Gorbachev

There are a striking number of similarities between the lives and deeds of Alexander Kerensky and Mikhail Gorbachev. Both came to power on the verge of the collapse of the state, the Russian empire in the case of Kerensky and the Soviet Union in the case of Gorbachev, and both initially enjoyed great popularity. Unfortunately, both also failed fully to implement their reform programmes and to hold onto power. Yet their attempts at democratisation helped to give the Russian people an opportunity to participate in creating history. By comparing their reconstructed images, the author reveals the similarities between the two politicians' lives and careers in the form of a schematic description of the consecutive stages of their careers.