Putin's Russia: Past Imperfect, Future Uncertain - Hardcover

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

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)

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

An excellent collection of articles from specialist authors. (Slavonic & East European Review)

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)

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)

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)