ABSTRACT

Having been fully revised and updated to reflect the considerable changes in Russia over the last decade, the fourth edition of this classic text builds on the strengths of the previous editions to provide a comprehensive and sophisticated analysis on Russian politics and society. New to this edition:

  • extended coverage of electoral laws, party development and regional politics
  • new chapter on the ‘phoney democracy’ period, 1991-93
  • historical evaluation of Yeltsin’s leadership
  • full coverage of Putin’s presidency
  • discussion of the development of civil society and the problems of democratic consolidation
  • latest developments in the Chechnya conflict
  • more on foreign policy issues
  • the re-introduction of the Russian Constitution as an appendix
  • an updated Select Bibliography
  • more focus on the challenges facing Russia in the twenty-first century.

Written in an accessible and lively style, this book is packed with detailed information on the central debates and issues in Russia’s difficult transformation. This makes it the best available textbook on the subject and is essential reading for all those concerned with the fate of Russia, and with the future of international society.

part |2 pages

Part I The fall of communism and the rebirth of Russia

chapter 1|22 pages

Soviet communism and its dissolution

chapter 2|15 pages

The disintegration of the USSR

chapter 3|21 pages

Phoney democracy, 1991–3

part |2 pages

Part II Political institutions and processes

chapter 4|20 pages

Constitutionalism and the law

chapter 5|22 pages

Crime, corruption and security

chapter 6|23 pages

The executive

chapter 7|32 pages

Party development

chapter 8|28 pages

Electoral politics

chapter 9|17 pages

The legislature

part |2 pages

Part III Nationalism, federalism and regionalism

chapter 10|29 pages

National identity and state-building

chapter 11|19 pages

Federalism and the new state

chapter 12|30 pages

Segmented regionalism and the new federalism

part |2 pages

Part IV Economy and society

chapter 13|27 pages

Russian capitalism

chapter 14|31 pages

Society and social movements

chapter 15|18 pages

Cultural transformation

part |2 pages

Part V Foreign, security and neighbourhood policy

chapter 16|27 pages

Foreign policy

chapter 17|28 pages

Defence and security policy

chapter 18|21 pages

Commonwealth, community and fragmentation

part |2 pages

Part VI Dilemmas of democratisation

chapter 19|20 pages

Problems of transition

chapter 20|15 pages

Democracy in Russia