Capitalism with a Human Face: The Quest for a Middle Road in Russian Politics

by William Gay, T. A. Alekseeva

Overview

Combining the theoretical perspectives of a leading Russian political scientist and an American political philosopher who have collaborated for years, Capitalism with a Human Face analyzes the relation between economics and politics in Russia as it moves toward modernization. Throughout the book, the authors contrast Western media accounts of the Russian situation with less accessible but more relevant data gathered in Russia since 1991. They advocate a new notion of centrism for Russia: one that combines democratic politics and a market economy without abandoning the social guarantees on which many Russians have long relied and without which their political and economic life is likely to remain in turmoil. This will be an important work for scholars and students of social and political philosophy, international relations, comparative politics, and economics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780847681365
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	01/23/1996
Series:	Studies in Social, Political, and Legal Philosophy
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.59(d)

About the Author

William Gay is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

T. A. Alekseeva is Chair of the Department of Political Philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy in Moscow and Chair of the Department of Political Science at Moscow State Linguistic University. Together, they are the editors of On the Eve of the 21st Century: Perspectives of Russian and American Philosophers (1994, Rowman & Littlefield).

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: Today's Russia Needs Capitalism with a Human Face Chapter 2 Past and Present Forms of Russian Extremism Chapter 3 Russian Confusion Regarding Democracy Chapter 4 The Limitation of Russia's Democratic Intellectuals Chapter 5 The Alternative of Russian Centrism Part 6 Part I: Economy and Politics Chapter 7 Recent Russia's Economic and Political History Chapter 8 Russia's New Economic System. Russia's New Political System Chapter 9 The State and Political Stability Chapter 10 The Role of Paternalism in Political Philosophy Chapter 11 Russian Paternalism and Authoritarianism Chapter 12 Political Stability and the New Russian Elite Chapter 13 Past, Present, and Future Russian State Systems Chapter 14 Models for a Mixed Economy Chapter 15 Market Systems, Command Systems, and Mixed Systems Chapter 16 The Self-Interest of Russian Manufactures Chapter 17 The Need for a Broader Conception of Russian Interest Chapter 18 The Need to Resist Failed Soviet Methods Part 19 Part II: Consciousness and Class Chapter 20 Current Russian Consciousness and Philosophical Discourse Chapter 21 The Impact of the Disintegratin of the Soviet Union Chapter 22 The Transition to a Russian Consciousness Chapter 23 The Status of Imperial and Patriotic Elements in Russian Consciousness Chapter 24 Inequality and the Resurgence of Neo-Bolshevism Chapter 25 The Main Trends in Russian Public Opinion Chapter 26 More Recent Shifts in Attitudes Chapter 27 The Quest for a New Paradigm in Social Theory Chapter 28 The Identify and Prospect of the Current Russian Middle Class Chapter 29 The Historical Development of Russian Classes and Intelligentsia Chapter 30 Difficulties in Identifying the Middle Class in Russia Chapter 31 The Current Primacy of Political Affiliation over Social Class Chapter 32 The Lingering Influence of Marxism-Leninism and Russian Extremism Chapter 33 The Prospects for Cultivating Centrist Attitudes Chapter 34 Public Resistance to and Misunderstandings of Centrism Recent Projections Concerning the Russian Middle Class Part 35 Part III: Centrism Chapter 36 The Emergence and Future of Parties of the Center Chapter 37 Current Analyses of Russia's Political Parties and Ideologies Chapter 38 The West's Threefold Classification of Russia's Political Groups Chapter 39 The Six Primary Political Groups in Russia Today Chapter 40 Russia's Social Democrats Before and After the Coup Chapter 41 The Recent Emergence of Political Clubs Chapter 42 The Status and Prospects of Centrism in Russia Chapter 43 Deficiencies of the Soviet System Chapter 44 The Unprofessionalism of the Transitional Leaders Chapter 45 Rising Popularity of Centrist Candidates Chapter 46 The Broadening Acceptance of Centrist Values Chapter 47 Political Blocs in the State Duma and Trends in Regional Elections Chapter 48 Obstacles Still Facing Centrism Chapter 49 The Prospects for "Capitalism with a Human Face" Chapter 50 Conclusion: Toward Russian Capitalism with Social Guarantees and Democracy Chapter 51 The Case for Social Guarantees Chapter 52 Post-Keynesian Economic Liberalism Chapter 53 From Paternalism to Partnership Chapter 54 Bibliography Chapter 55 Index

Editorial Reviews

No one can be confident about predicting Russia's short- or long-term future, and this book is very successful at showing why.

William McBride

.. . few books concentrate on the centrist argument and its fundamental arguments are straightforward.

Choice Reviews

.. . few books concentrate on the centrist argument and its fundamental arguments are straightforward.

Choice

.. . few books concentrate on the centrist argument and its fundamental arguments are straightforward.

CHOICE