Russian Politics Today

Reviews / Votes

'One of the most comprehensive compilations on Russian politics, this richly illustrated textbook that features outstanding contributions from well-known scholars will be of great value to students and teachers. It offers a holistic take on Russian politics going beyond key political institutions and power dynamics. Refreshingly, it covers issues that have been often neglected in mainstream accounts of Russian politics, offering new perspectives on race, class, gender, sexuality, and the environment. The power elite and the socially marginal, the metropolitan centers and the rural backwaters, all come together in this wonderful new volume to give us a nuanced set of perspectives as we grapple with the realities of an autocracy waging a brutal war in Ukraine.' Tomila Lankina, London School of Economics and Political Science 'To gain a comprehensive, up-to-date, and historically grounded understanding of Russian politics, look no further than this book. This excellent volume brings together a group of experts offering useful and timely insights on key dimensions of Russian politics, economy, and society. Its unparalleled breadth and depth make it not only a great textbook, but also a must-read among scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in Russia.' Cheng Chen, University at Albany, State University of New York 'The coverage of Russian Politics Today is fresh and current; the book includes topics previously overlooked in Russian politics textbooks, such as climate change, race, gender, and ethnicity, along with more standard topics like political institutions, economic development, and foreign policy. The chapters are topical, widely appealing, and provide an important focus on domestic social conditions and political dynamics. The book draws from an internationally diverse pool of well-known authors with deep expertise in their areas of focus.' Hilary Appel, Claremont McKenna College, California 'Wengle has gathered a strong and internationally diverse group of authors, many representing the emerging generation of experts on Russia. They bring fresh perspectives to a wide range of topics, from key institutions and policy areas to such issues as racism and climate change. The volume has particular breadth of coverage about Russia's political economy, from the oligarchs to the country's marginalized. Each chapter provides discussion questions, and additional instructional materials are available online. With its prologue describing the invasion of Ukraine and the resulting changes in Russia's domestic politics and foreign policy, plus references to the war's impact in each relevant chapter, the volume will feel up to date to students. This is an invaluable resource for teaching a subject that is now as important as it has ever been.' William M. Reisinger,, University of Iowa 'This is an outstanding textbook and an excellent resource for anyone who is interested in Russian politics. Containing chapters by leading experts, the book is comprehensive and up to date. The discussion is balanced, sophisticated, and also very readable.' Magnus Feldmann, University of Bristol 'This textbook provides a rich, up-to-date overview of a refreshingly broad range of topics relating to Russian politics, economics, and society, from a diverse group of leading experts. The book will likely prove invaluable for those seeking engaging introductory analysis of Russia during a time of uncertainty and instability.' Ben Noble, University College London 'This is an admirably comprehensive textbook that manages to convey the complexity of Russian politics while remaining highly accessible. If you're going to use a textbook in a course on Russia, this is the book to use! The volume brings together excellent authors, covers the most relevant topics, and will be useful to both beginning and more advanced students.' Masha Hedberg, Colgate University, New York '[This] volume is recommended as a handbook on Russia's post-Soviet politics, especially on political, economic and social developments in the twenty-first century. Some observers suggest that the invasion of February 2022 marked the end of a recent period in Russian history. In describing both the before and the immediate aftermath of this watershed event, 'Russian Politics Today' has few competitors.' Ivan Sumaneev, Europe-Asia Studies