Putin's Russia: Past Imperfect, Future Uncertain / Edition 6

by Stephen K. Wegren

Overview

Now in a thoroughly revised, expanded, and updated sixth edition, this classic text provides the most authoritative and current analysis available of the challenges facing Russia today. Leading scholars explore the daunting domestic and international problems confronting Putin. Evaluating the regime’s continued efforts to rebuild a country once on the verge of collapse, they consider a comprehensive array of economic, political, foreign policy, and social issues.

Putin has his own approach for dealing with the myriad problems facing Russia, emphasizing recentralization of power and a strong state. He has returned to power amid unresolved policy issues both domestically and from the international community. Only by understanding these concerns—andprevious efforts todeal with them—willit be possibleto understand the country’s trajectory. Well written and clearly organized, this text is an indispensable guide for anyone wanting to understand contemporary Russia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442239180
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	07/15/2015
Edition description:	Sixth Edition
Pages:	372
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Stephen K. Wegren is professor of political science at Southern Methodist University.

Table of Contents

Preface Introduction: Prospects during Putin’s Fourth Term Stephen K. Wegren Part I: Domestic Politics 1 Political Leadership Richard Sakwa 2 Regional Politics Nikolai Petrov and Darrell Slider 3 The Role of Law Kathryn Hendley 4 Civil Society and Protest Alfred B. Evans Jr. 5 The Media Maria Lipman Part II: The Economy and Society 6 Economic Inequality and Social Policy Thomas F. Remington 7 Economic Policy Laura Solanko and Pekka Sutela 8 Crime and Corruption Louise Shelley 9 Gender and Politics Janet Elise Johnson and Alexandra Novitskaya Part III: Russia and the World 10 Relations with the United States Andrei P. Tsygankov 11 Relations with the European Union Jeffrey Mankoff 12 Russia-China Relations Jeanne L. Wilson 13 Food and Foreign Policy Stephen K. Wegren and Alexander M. Nikulin 14 Energy Stefan Hedlund 15 The Military Bettina Renz About the Contributors Index

Editorial Reviews

This is an excellent anthology of well-written chapters that elucidate the key dynamics of the Russian political system as well as the main themes of Russian policy at the advent of President Putin's return to power in 2012. In each of the chapters, the contributors are careful to outline the parameters of the institutional or policy themes established during the Yeltsin years of the 1990s. They then clarify the often sharp changes that President Putin put in place in the early 21st century. On a broader level, the Putin/Medvedev years have been characterized by the contradiction between movement in a more statist centralized direction and the emergence of a more robust and participatory political culture. In this regard, the chapters on civil society and media are particularly welcome. Domestic policy chapters highlight past changes and current needs in demographic, economic, crime/corruption, and agricultural policy. The four foreign policy chapters focus on the tensions with the US, the priority on Central Asia, the importance of relations with the EU, and the process of military reform. Scholars, students, and observers of Russian politics will welcome this worthy volume. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers; upper-division undergraduate students and above.-- "Choice Reviews"

An excellent collection of articles from specialist authors.-- "Slavonic & East European Review"

Shed[s] valuable light on a subject of past neglect and growing importance.-- "The Royal Institute of International Affairs"

A first-rate collection of thought-provoking articles by leading experts, this volume provides a comprehensive and balanced view of Putin's Russia. The editor has done an excellent job of compiling essays that cover all the key issues, from the parliament to the press to the state of Russia's military. A must for students of Russian affairs.--Amy Knight, Carleton University

A signal service. The contributors know the country exceedingly well and know how to write. The book is a must-read for anyone attempting to keep up with the extraordinary changes taking place in Russia today.--David Powell, Wheaton College and Harvard University

Steve Wegren's collection has been in constant demand since its first appearance, and rightly so. Particularly welcome is the way in which the contents change to reflect an evolving policy agenda and the authorship changes to bring new faces into what has always been an impressive lineup. Students will be delighted to see this new edition and so will a more specialist readership.--Stephen White, University of Glasgow

Whether this volume is commenting on the latest breaking news or on the origins of nagging unsolved problems, it has the analytical scope and intellectual rigor needed for those asking the questions: 'Who is Putin?' and 'Where is Russia going?' A textbook on current political affairs can be a publisher's nightmare. However . . . [this book] has stood the test of quickly changing events.--Peter Lavelle

From the Publisher

This is an excellent anthology of well-written chapters that elucidate the key dynamics of the Russian political system as well as the main themes of Russian policy at the advent of President Putin's return to power in 2012. In each of the chapters, the contributors are careful to outline the parameters of the institutional or policy themes established during the Yeltsin years of the 1990s. They then clarify the often sharp changes that President Putin put in place in the early 21st century. On a broader level, the Putin/Medvedev years have been characterized by the contradiction between movement in a more statist centralized direction and the emergence of a more robust and participatory political culture. In this regard, the chapters on civil society and media are particularly welcome. Domestic policy chapters highlight past changes and current needs in demographic, economic, crime/corruption, and agricultural policy. The four foreign policy chapters focus on the tensions with the US, the priority on Central Asia, the importance of relations with the EU, and the process of military reform. Scholars, students, and observers of Russian politics will welcome this worthy volume. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers; upper-division undergraduate students and above.

Choice Reviews

Steve Wegren’s collection has been in constant demand since its first appearance, and rightly so. Particularly welcome is the way in which the contents change to reflect an evolving policy agenda and the authorship changes to bring new faces into what has always been an impressive lineup. Students will be delighted to see this new edition and so will a more specialist readership.

Stephen White

An excellent collection of articles from specialist authors.

Slavonic & East European Review

Whether this volume is commenting on the latest breaking news or on the origins of nagging unsolved problems, it has the analytical scope and intellectual rigor needed for those asking the questions: ‘Who is Putin?’ and ‘Where is Russia going?’ A textbook on current political affairs can be a publisher’s nightmare. However. .. [this book] has stood the test of quickly changing events.

Peter Lavelle

Shed[s] valuable light on a subject of past neglect and growing importance.

The Royal Institute of International Affairs

A first-rate collection of thought-provoking articles by leading experts, this volume provides a comprehensive and balanced view of Putin’s Russia. The editor has done an excellent job of compiling essays that cover all the key issues, from the parliament to the press to the state of Russia’s military. A must for students of Russian affairs.

Amy Knight

A signal service. The contributors know the country exceedingly well and know how to write. The book is a must-read for anyone attempting to keep up with the extraordinary changes taking place in Russia today.

David Powell

This is an excellent anthology of well-written chapters that elucidate the key dynamics of the Russian political system as well as the main themes of Russian policy at the advent of President Putin's return to power in 2012. In each of the chapters, the contributors are careful to outline the parameters of the institutional or policy themes established during the Yeltsin years of the 1990s. They then clarify the often sharp changes that President Putin put in place in the early 21st century. On a broader level, the Putin/Medvedev years have been characterized by the contradiction between movement in a more statist centralized direction and the emergence of a more robust and participatory political culture. In this regard, the chapters on civil society and media are particularly welcome. Domestic policy chapters highlight past changes and current needs in demographic, economic, crime/corruption, and agricultural policy. The four foreign policy chapters focus on the tensions with the US, the priority on Central Asia, the importance of relations with the EU, and the process of military reform. Scholars, students, and observers of Russian politics will welcome this worthy volume. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers; upper-division undergraduate students and above.

Choice

This is an excellent anthology of well-written chapters that elucidate the key dynamics of the Russian political system as well as the main themes of Russian policy at the advent of President Putin's return to power in 2012. In each of the chapters, the contributors are careful to outline the parameters of the institutional or policy themes established during the Yeltsin years of the 1990s. They then clarify the often sharp changes that President Putin put in place in the early 21st century. On a broader level, the Putin/Medvedev years have been characterized by the contradiction between movement in a more statist centralized direction and the emergence of a more robust and participatory political culture. In this regard, the chapters on civil society and media are particularly welcome. Domestic policy chapters highlight past changes and current needs in demographic, economic, crime/corruption, and agricultural policy. The four foreign policy chapters focus on the tensions with the US, the priority on Central Asia, the importance of relations with the EU, and the process of military reform. Scholars, students, and observers of Russian politics will welcome this worthy volume. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers; upper-division undergraduate students and above.

CHOICE