It's good to see one person has bothered to read the article.
I'm amazed how many people will comment on an article without having even read it.
You're right. This article basically says it looks like the Soviet Union collapsed because their planned economic system was incapable of adapting to higher oil prices caused by production declines within the Soviet Union. So, they had to switch to a market system. Hardly a defense of socialism.
Don't forget one little fact: OPEC cut oil prices by huge amounts and with the USSR a major exporter, their one major source of funds dried up and left the country bankrupt. I know this sounds like heresy, but Reagan only helped with their demise.