This timely book explores Russias political development since the collapse of the USSR and how inextricably it has been bound up with economic change. Tracing the evolution of Russias political economy, leading scholars consider how it may continue to develop going forward. They assess the historical legacies of the Soviet period, showing howdespite policies implemented after the USSR dissolved in 1991there are ongoing bitter battles over property and state revenues, over land, and over welfare. The book puts these domestic issues in international and comparative perspective by considering Russias position in the global economy and its growing role as a major energy producer. Focusing especially on the nature and future of Russian capitalism, the contributors weigh the political problems that confront Russia in its ongoing struggle to modernize and develop its economy.Contributions by: Andrew Barnes, Paul T. Christensen, Linda J. Cook, Gerald M. Easter, Neil Robinson, Richard Sakwa, and Stephen K. Wegren.

Neil Robinson is senior lecturer in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at the University of Limerick, Ireland.

Chapter 1: Introduction: The Political Problems of Russian CapitalismNeil RobinsonChapter 2: The Contexts of Russias Political Economy: Soviet Legacies and Post-Soviet PoliciesNeil RobinsonChapter 3: Revenue Imperatives: State over Market in Postcommunist RussiaGerald M. EasterChapter 4: Systemic Stalemate:Reiderstvo and the Dual StateRichard SakwaChapter 5: The Political Economy of Russias Demographic Crisis: States and Markets, Mothers and MigrantsLinda J. CookChapter 6: Change in Agriculture: The Development of Russias Private FarmingStephen K. WegrenChapter 7: Russias Potential Role in the World Oil System: Reciprocal Dependency, Global Integration, and Positive Unintended ConsequencesAndrew BarnesChapter 8: Russia as Semiperiphery: Political Economy, the State, and Society in the Contemporary World SystemPaul T. ChristensenChapter 9: Conclusion: The Political Dysfunctions of Russian CapitalismNeil Robinson