Russia 2010

From the author of the Pulitzer and Eccles Prize-winning, "The Prize", this book analyzes one of the most important events of the 20th and 21st centuries - what comes next after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It uses the management technique of scenario planning to build four plausible stories of the future already evidenced by events occuring in Russia today - not least the recent success in the elections of the ultra-nationalists. The "stories" are: "The two-headed eagle" - a Russia that looks forwards and backwards at the same time?; "The long good-bye" - the dissolution of Russia?; "The Russian bear" - a grim dictatorship?; and "Chudo" - the Russian economic miracle? Yergin and Gustafson provide essential insight into emerging power relationships, local ethnic wars that could turn into wider conflicts, and they also study the opportunities and pitfalls facing the new Russia. Throughout the book, the authors examine the possible Western response, look at the new role of foreign investment and international aid, the priorities for arms control, and argue the final paradox - that the West is both marginal and crucial for Russia's future development.
The book should be of interest to corporate executives, politicians, scholars and students in helping to think through the state of the world after communism. Daniel Yergin is also the author of "Shattered Peace".