ABSTRACT
Russia's transition to a market economy has been tortuous to say the least. However, this book argues that the arguments and counter-arguments that pitch shock therapy against gradualism are wide of the mark and quite pointless.
Indeed, the reasons for the warped outcomes can actually be traced back through the long sweep of Russian history. Decisions made in the distant past can fully influence policy- making in the present. Hedlund's thesis can, like this, be seen as influenced by the 'path dependency' theories of Paul David among others.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|20 pages
Introduction
chapter 1|18 pages
History matters
part II|50 pages
The setting
chapter 2|22 pages
Stationary bandits
chapter 3|26 pages
Successor states
part III|86 pages
The lock-in
chapter 4|28 pages
Lords of all Rus
chapter 5|24 pages
The only true Christians
chapter 6|32 pages
The patrimonial state
part IV|104 pages
The path dependence
chapter 7|31 pages
The apogee of patrimonialism
chapter 8|32 pages
Failures to break out
chapter 9|39 pages
Back to Muscovy
part V|71 pages
Breaking with the past?