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The Russian revolution, collapse of the Soviet Union, and Russia's ensuing transformation belong to the greatest dramas of our time. Revolutions are usually messy and emotional affairs, challenging much of the conventional wisdom, and Russia's experience is no exception. This book focuses on the transformation from Soviet Russia to Russia as a market economy, and explores why the country has failed to transform into a democracy. It examines the period from 1985, when Mikhail Gorbachev became the Soviet Union's Secretary General of the Communist Party, to the present Russia of Vladimir Putin. Ã…slund provides a broad overview of Russia's economic change, highlighting the most important issues and their subsequent resolutions, including Russia's inability to sort out the ruble zone during its revolution, several failed coups, and the financial crash of August 1998. Includes photos, maps, graphs and charts.
E-Book Content
ANDERS ÅSLUND
R U S S I A’ S C A P I TA L I S T REVOLUTION W H Y
M A R K E T
S U C C E E D E D D E M O C R A C Y
R E F O R M A N D F A I L E D
PETERSON INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
RUSSIA’S C A P I TA L I S T REVOLUTION WHY MARKET RE F O R M SUCCEEDED A N D DEMOCRACY FA I L E D
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A N D E R S Å S LU N D
RUSSIA’S C A P I TA L I S T REVOLUTION WH Y M A R K E T R E F O R M S U CC E E D E D A N D D E M O C R AC Y FA I L E D
PETERSON INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS Washington, DC October 2007
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Anders Åslund, known to repeatedly challenge conventional wisdom on “transition economies,” is a leading specialist on postcommunist economic transformation with more than 30 years of experience in the field. He boldly predict