Preface; Contents; About the Authors; Acronyms; List of Tables; List of Graphs; 1 The Disintegration of the Soviet Union: Systemic Change and Systematic Collapse; The Structure of the Argument; Monolithic Party and Democratic Centralism; Soviet Economy: Uneven and Over-Militarised; Gorbachev's Reforms: Perestroika and Glasnost; Conflicts Between Party Elites: Gorbachev-Yeltsin Rivalry; Surge of Nationalism in the Soviet Republics; Was Disintegration Inevitable?; Conclusion; References; 2 The Constitution of Russia: Genesis, Features and Political Implications; Why a New Constitution?

An Outline of the ConstitutionFundamental Structure of the Constitution; Constitutionalism and Accountability; Political Implications; References; 3 The Formation of the Federation and Regional Politics; The Federal Discourse; Regional Structure; Negotiating the Federation (1990-2000); The constitution and the Regional Question; Putin and the Changes in Federal Laws; The Regional Elite; Patterns in Regional Politics; Regional Politics and Governance; Economic Reforms in the Region; Inter-regional Conflicts in the Early Years; The Case of Tatarstan; The Case of the Caucasus and Chechnya

Separatism in DagestanIntegrative Federalism Under Putin; Conclusion; References; 4 The Presidency and Presidential Power; Putin's Ascendance to Power; Putin's Understanding of Russia; Putin's Popularity; Consolidating Russian Statehood; Political Management; Economic Consolidation; Re-emergence of Russian Power; Social Policies; The Medvedev Interregnum (2008-2012); The Yeltsin Years; Shaping the Presidency; The President in the Russian Federation; The Conflict with the Parliament; The President's Role in the New Constitution; Elite and Presidential Politics

Yeltsin's Personalised Politics and the Rise of PutinConclusion; References; 5 Political Parties and Elections; Stages of the Evolution of the Party System; Background; Proliferation of Parties in the Russian Federation; Russian Parties on a Left-Right Spectrum; Ideological Left-Wing and Right-Wing Parties; The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF); The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR); Parties at the Centre; Civic Union; Russian Movement for Democratic Reforms (RDDR); Party of Russian Unity and Accord (PRES); The Democratic Party of Russia

The Agrarian Party of Russia (APR)Women of Russia; Russia's Choice and the Union of Right Forces (SPS); Yabloko; Our Home Is Russia; Motherland; The United Russia Party; One-Party Dominance in Russia; Parliamentary Elections; Conclusion; References; 6 Economic Transition and State Capitalism; Stages of Transition; Background; Triumphant Neoliberalism and Predatory Capitalism (1991-1998); De-Industrialisation; Financial Crisis of 1998; The Rise of Oligarchs; Economic Recovery and a Reversal Towards State Capitalism (1999-2012); Economic Slowdown and Sanctions (2013-2016); Agriculture