"Fully revised and updated to reflect the considerable changes in Russia over the last decade, the fifth edition of this classic text builds on the strengths of previous editions to provide a comprehensive and sophisticated analysis of Russian politics and society. The new edition incorporates the latest debates about Russian politics, analysing recent institutional and political developments, and examines the electoral cycle and prospects of the president elected at the end of the process. New to this edition: An evaluation of Putin's leadership and the country's political performance under him; Updated election results and demographic, social, ethnic/national statistics to include results of the 2010 census; Changes in the party system, to electoral legislation and to the composition of parliament as well as the relationship between the executive and legislature; Coverage of the constitutional changes and governmental appointments under the various prime ministers; More analysis of economic performance including discussion of the energy sector and pipeline politics; Changes in Russian foreign policy since EU enlargement, its relationship with NATO since the 'reset', as well as its relations with post-Soviet states; Assessment of the military reforms and security and defence policy; Debates over the question of democracy in Russia today, the nature of the system, and its future prospects. 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. An unrivalled textbook on the subject it is essential reading for all those concerned with the fate of Russia, and with the future of international society"-- Provided by publisher.

Machine generated contents note:1. Approaches To Russian Politics -- The challenge of history -- Transition and modernisation -- Models of Russian politics and the dual state -- 2. Soviet Communism And Its Dissolution -- The Soviet system -- Perestroika (restructuring) -- The reconstitution of Russia -- Popular insurgency and regime decay -- 3. The Disintegration Of The Ussr -- The August 1991 coup -- The disintegration of the USSR -- Problems of state building -- 4. Phoney Democracy, 1991 -- 93 -- The executive presidency -- Displaced sovereignty -- Political confrontation -- Constitutional coup -- 5. Constitutionalism And The Law -- The 1993 constitution -- The Constitutional Court -- The legal system and its reform -- Law and constitutionalism -- 6. Crime, Corruption And Security -- Crime, mafia and the state -- Meta-corruption and anti-corruption -- The security apparatus -- The role of the `siloviki' -- 7. The Executive -- Leadership and leaders -- Debating the presidency -- The institutions of the presidency -- The government -- Prime ministers and their policies -- Public administration: from nomenklatura to civil service -- 8. Party Development -- Stages of party development -- Normative framework -- The party system today -- Problems of party representation -- Party development -- 9. Electoral Politics -- Founding elections and electoral management -- The electoral system and its reform -- Electoral engagement and authoritarianism -- 10. The Legislature -- Elections to the State Duma -- Organisation and role -- The Federation Council -- 11. National Identity And Nation Building -- From empire to state -- Russian nationalism and identity -- The contours of national identity -- 12. State Building And Ethno-Federalism -- Community and citizenship -- Borders and secessionism -- Ethno-federalism and state building -- The potential for conflict -- 13. Federalism And Segmented Regionalism -- Russian federalism -- Segmented regionalism -- Asymmetrical federalism -- Putin's `new federalism' -- 14. Russian Capitalism -- The road to the market -- The Russian economy today -- Evaluation of market reform -- 15. Society And Social Movements -- Social structure and dynamics -- Welfare and incomes -- Social movements -- Para-constitutionalism and civil society -- 16. Cultural Transformation -- The media -- Culture and the intelligentsia -- Religion and the state -- Political culture and public opinion -- 17. From Post-Soviet To Greater Eurasia -- The Commonwealth of Independent States -- Regional organisations and unions -- Eurasian economic integration -- Greater Eurasia and macro-regional organisations -- 18. Foreign Policy -- The evolution of Russian foreign policy -- The structure of policy-making -- Debates over foreign policy -- Drawing the line -- Russia and the world -- 19. Defence And Security Policy -- From Soviet to Russian armed forces -- The great retreat -- New security paradigms -- Reform and modernisation -- Military and security doctrines -- Nuclear politics, non-proliferation and deterrence -- 20. Politics In Russia -- Problems of democracy -- Stable but unconsolidated -- Towards democracy?.