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Joint Ventures in the Soviet Union: A Review of Current Literature in English

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2019

Igor I. Kavass  and
Andrew Griffin
Igor I. Kavass
Affiliation:
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, U.S.A.
Andrew Griffin
Affiliation:
Vanderbilt University School of Law, Nashville, TN, U.S.A.
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Extract

Since the Soviet Union's emergence as a willing participant in foreign capital investment ventures, the amount of legal literature on the subject has proliferated at an amazing rate. The research runs the gamut from newsletters and bulletins to highly complex compendia of texts and documents packaged in complete looseleaf binders for supplements so that the reader can keep abreast of fast-breaking developments. Lawyers and law students of all masts vie for space in publication columns to try their hand at this high-profile and highly current topic. Even Soviet jurists and economists try to cash in on this publication bonanza by coming out with pronouncements on joint-venture opportunities which are translated into English with the hope of widespread Western consumption.

Type
Articles
Information
International Journal of Legal Information , Volume 18 , Issue 3: Winter 1990 , Winter 1990 , pp. 177 - 204
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 by The Institute for International Legal Information 

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References

1 Decree of the USSR Council of Ministers, “On the Establishment in the Territory of the USSR and Operation of Joint Venture with the Participation of Soviet Organizations and Firms from Capitalist and Developing Countries.” January 13, 1987. The two other Council of Ministers decrees that in effect amended the provisions of the original joint venture legislation are the September, 1987 decree “On Additional Measures to Improve the Country's External Activity” and the December, 1988 decree “Organizational and Legal Issues of Foreign Economic Activity”. In March of 1989, two sets of regulations having a major impact on joint venture operations were also passed: March 7—“On Measures of State Regulations of Foreign Trade”, and March 20—“Regulations on Licensing Procedures in USSR Foreign Trade”.Google Scholar

2 Drozd, “Svoya paika ot piroga” (One's Own Piece of the Pie”) Pravda, April 2, 1990, at 2, col. 8. The title of this article speaks for itself.Google Scholar

3 See Comments of Lev Weinberg, Chairman of the Association of Soviet Joint Ventures in “A Journal Interview: Association of Soviet Joint Ventures”, 15 Journal of the US-USSR Trade and Economics Council 17 (1990). Mr. Weinberg provides a sophisticated, non-jingoistic Soviet view of joint venture development. Whereas these authors hold the view that joint ventures are at present risky because they fit uncomfortably into the Soviet system-state economy, Mr. Weinberg singles out “people problems” as the root of joint venture mishaps, i.e., the naivete or carelessness of Western partners, or the lack of “psychological compatibility” with their Soviet counterparts.Google Scholar

4 “Big Deals Into Big Trouble in the Soviet Union”, Business Week, March 19, 1990.Google Scholar

5 As this article goes into print, press announcements begin to appear to the effect that Gorbachev intends to introduce new legislation which will profoundly alter Soviet policy on joint ventures and foreign investments in general. See Keller, Bill. “Soviets Ease a Barrier to Business.” New York Times, October 30, 1990. p. C1.Google Scholar