We’re all Soviets now

Niall Ferguson's essay, "We're All Soviets Now," draws parallels between present-day conditions and the Soviet Union, pointing to a permanent deficit, a bloated military, a bogus ideology pushed by elites, poor health among ordinary people, and senescent leaders. The visible preview is introduced by Bari of The Free Press, who announces that Ferguson is joining the outlet as a biweekly columnist. The preview lists his credentials, including two Oxford degrees and teaching posts at Oxford, Cambridge, NYU and the London School of Economics. The rest of the essay is behind a subscription paywall, so its supporting evidence is not visible.