Putin's Russia [Paperback]

Lilia Shevtsova (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0870032011 | ISBN-13: 978-0870032011 | Publication Date: April 2003

On December 31, 1999, ailing political maverick Boris Yeltsin abruptly handed the country's leadership over to the virtually unknown former intelligence officer Vladimir Putin. The new Kremlin boss represented both continuity and change. While he was linked with the past, he also signified a sharp break from it. With Putin's ascent to power, Russian leadership and Russia have changed dramatically. A pragmatic manager, Putin has tamed the Russian elite and arrogant tycoons, pushed forward economic reforms previously stalled under Yeltsin, and instituted a pro-Western foreign policy. He has accomplished all of this while maintaining a 70 per cent approval rating. However, Russia's transformation under Putin remains a paradox. Outwardly he has proved his destre to modernize Russia, but he has also demonstrated a deep distrust of major democratic institutions and an open desire to keep tight control over the society. In this volume, Lilia Shevtsova examines how, under Putin, the country vacillates between optimism and anguish, hope and resentment. She studies the true nature of Putin's leadership and how far he is willing to go and capable of going with further transformation. Time will tell if he can combine his authoritarian ways with economic liberalism and pro-western policy to define the Russia of the 21st century.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When dark horse Vladimir Putin succeeded Boris Yeltsin in 2000, a virtual cipher had risen to the Russian presidency. Discerning that his two and one-half years in power have revealed Putin's personality and policies, this well-informed Russian observer offers a straightforward situation report. Attuned to Russians' attitude toward politics--they traditionally accept authoritarian leadership--Shevtsova marches through Putin's success in inducing Russia's power groups (liberals, business oligarchs, Moscow ministries, and regional governors) to fall in behind him. The copious public opinion data discussed by Shevtsova indicate acquiescence to this trend by ordinary Russians, weary of the economic vicissitudes of the uproarious 1990s. She does not, however, detect significant risk of backsliding into communist-style politics; except for a hardcore 25 percent of the populace nostalgic for the hammer and sickle, what Russians want out of Putin is a preservation of liberal freedoms, stabilization of liberal economics, a Western orientation in foreign policy, and a cessation of the war in Chechnya. Shevtsova's scorecard on these points will interest serious Russia watchers. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"...a timely, expert book." -- The Washington Post

"...offers many insights into Kremlin court politics." -- The Economist

"An insightful analysis of the political maneuvering inside the Moscow beltway." -- CHOICE

"Shevtsova is one of the most astute and independent-minded observers of the Russian political scene. -- Times Literary Supplement

"Shevtsova...benefits not only from hindsight but exceptional insight." -- The Moscow Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 298 pages
• Publisher: Carnegie Endowment for Intl Peace (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870032011
• ISBN-13: 978-0870032011
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,268,531 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended!, May 18, 2004

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Putin's Russia (Hardcover)

Author Lilia Shevtsova gives an authoritative, if undramatic and less than perfectly organized, account of the rise of Vladimir Putin. Boris Yeltsin chose the anonymous, quiet former KGB colonel for one of the world's most powerful jobs, in part because of his loyalty. Putin's clear-eyed pragmatism and his visceral support of George W. Bush's war on terrorism have given Russia otherwise unattainable international significance. Now, will Putin use his power to reform Russia's political institutions and strengthen its framework of democratic governance? This quite readable book goes beyond the headlines and indicates that Russia is still a land of intrigue and mystery, where the only certainty is that there is none. Under that circumstance, Shevtsova has done an admirable job of framing how Russia reached its current state and what historical choices now confront it. The future of Russia is far from set. We very highly recommend this book to those who seek a deeper understanding of one of America's staunchest allies in the war on terror.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent critique of Russia today, January 24, 2004

By 

Alex Scriabin "Sasha" (Memphis, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Putin's Russia (Paperback)

This wonderful and VERY readable work is surprisingly up to date (literally fresh of the press) and also extremely insightful. Shevtsova's basic premise, and one that is so true, is that Russians, when confronted with hard times, seem to rely on a "strong leader" to solve problems. She believes that Putin in many ways embodies this theme and that what Russia is truly lacking is not only a democratic culture but democratic institutions with real bite and stability. Respect for the rule of the law, as distinguished from Putin's "dictatorship of the law" is still lacking. Putin is a bit of an ambigious political personality, yet Shevtsova basically cracks the nut; this one is a real treat and sadly isn't available as widely as it should be. Indispensible to the modern Russophile or anyone interested in world events. Bravo.

4.0 out of 5 stars revised version, October 9, 2007

By 

S. Morrell (new york, ny) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Putin's Russia (Revised Edition) (Paperback)

I have not yet read the book in its entirety, its for a class, but I expect the revised version of the book to include events that the last one missed out on.