Russian Politics and Society, 2nd edition

Since first publication in 1993, Russian Politics and Society has become a standard text. Its detailed coverage of the major processes and issues in the development of post-communist Russian politics and society make it an indispensable guide to a fast-changing scene. This new edition is thoroughly revised and reorganised, bringing the debates and material up to date. It covers: * the reasons for the fall of the Soviet regime and its legacy for the reborn Russian state * an examination of political institutions and processes covering the new constitutional order, the emergence of a strong executive, Russian parliamentarianism and the emerging party system * a discussion of the relationship between federalism, nationalism, regionalism and localism * Russian economy and society, including a discussion of economic reform, social transformation and cultural change * an exploration of foreign policy, defence and security policy, state and nation building in the other fourteen post-Soviet republics, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the problem of borders, migration and citizenship * an examination of the achievements and prospects of democracy in Russia Russian Politics and Society seeks to evaluate the evidence in a balanced and subtle way, denying simplistic assumptions about the inevitable failure of the democratic experiment in Russia while avoiding facile generalisations on the inevitable triumph of global integration and democratization. Essential reading for those concerned with the fate of Russia and with the future of international society.