It is impossible to think of Russia today without thinking of Vladimir
Putin. More than any other major national leader, he personifies his
country in the eyes of the outside world, and dominates Western media
coverage. In Russia itself, he is likewise the centre of attention for
detractors and supporters alike.
But as Tony Wood argues, in
order to understand Russia today, the West needs to shake off its
obsession with Putin and look at what lies beyond the Kremlin, to see
Russia without Putin. In this timely and provocative analysis, Wood
looks beyond Putin to explore the profound changes Russia has undergone
since 1991. He shows that Russia is not strong but desperately trying to
create a space for itself in an increasingly globalized and competitive
world, Putin's reign is based on very thin ice; he is highly dependent
on a small handful of powerful men who prop him up.
Beyond the
rich suburbs of Moscow, Russia is a country that is only surviving
because of what remains of the soviet economy and culture rather than
being held back by it. Wood reconsiders what kind of country has
emerged from Russia's post-Soviet transformations. The introduction of
the market in the 1990s was a failure than descended into kleptocracy.
He shows that the revival of a new cold war is a myth. Russia's
incursions into Syria, Ukraine and questions of collusion into western
states are a sign of desperation rather than agression. Russia without
Putin culminates with reflections on the paths Russia might take in the
21st century following Putin's re-election in March 2018.
How will he placate the oligarchs who control the economy and how will he manage his succession, and protect his legacy?
Hardack version.
Russia Without Putin : Money, Power and the Myths of the New Cold War - Tony Wood
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£10.99