{"product_id":"russias-path-from-gorbachev-to-putin-new","title":"Russia's Path from Gorbachev to Putin,New","description":"\u003cp\u003eOver the past few years, many of the former Communistrule countries of Central and Eastern Europe have taken a steady path toward becoming more or less normal capitalist countries  with Poland and Hungary cases in point.Russia, on the other hand, has experienced extreme difficulties in its attempted transition to capitalism and democracy. The pursuit of Westernendorsed policies of privatization, liberalization and fiscal austerity have brought Russia growing crime and corruption, a distorted economy and a trend toward authoritarian government.In their 1996 book  Revolution from Above  David Kotz and Fred Weir shed light on the underlying reasons for the 1991 demise of the Soviet Union and the severe economic and political problems of the immediate postSoviet period in Russia.In this new book, the authors bring the story uptodate, showing how continuing misguided policies have entrenched a group of superrich oligarchs, in alliance with an allpowerful presidency, while further undermining Russia's economic potential. New topics include the origins of the oligarchs, the deep penetration of crime and corruption in Russian society, the financial crisis that almost destroyed the regime, the mixed blessing of an oildependent economy, the atrophy of democracy in the Yeltsin years, and the recentralization of political power in the Kremlin under President Putin.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Routledge","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46637561774325,"sku":"DADAX0415701473","price":132.88,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/5804\/8501\/files\/61T4xnU3oGS.jpg?v=1747234570","url":"https:\/\/ergodebooks.com\/products\/russias-path-from-gorbachev-to-putin-new","provider":"Ergodebooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}