The Rebirth of Politics in Russia
The Rebirth of Politics in Russia
Vyacheslav Igrunov, Institute for Humanities and Political Studies, Moscow
Sergei Mitrokhin, Institute for Humanities and Political Studies, Moscow
Blending first hand accounts of grassroots politics with an original theory of social relations under communism, this 1997 book seeks to explain one of the seminal events of this century: the rebirth of politics in Russia amid the collapse of the USSR. The authors trace the process from the pre-political period of dissident activity, through perestroika and the appearance of political groups and publications, elections, the formation of political parties and mass movements, counter-revolution and coup d'état, the victory of democratic forces and the organization of a Russian state; to the struggle of power in the post-communist epoch, the violent end of the first republic and the contentious relations engulfing its successor. By focusing on the popular forces which accomplished Russia's political rebirth, rather than the reforms of the Soviet establishment, this book offers an original perspective on this critical period.
- Original and wide-ranging analysis of the collapse of communism in Russia, and the re-emergence of a political system
- Offers an original theoretical perspective, unique insights from actual participants, and the perspective of the grassroots popular movements who forced change
- Urban is a respected commentator on Russian politics, and this should follow the pattern of Stephen White's books on reform in Russia
Reviews & endorsements
"...this book is a good example of theoretical clarity and recent history." D. McIntosh, Choice
"...offers a valuable account of the rise of the informal movement in late Soviet Russia....the authors are to be congratulated for providing a thorough and uniquely knowledgeable analysis of an important problem." The Russian Review
"...a comprehensive study of the origins and course of emergence of post-communist politics in Russia. ...a valuable contribution to the slim body of literature on the political groupings and organizations which brought about Russia's peaceful revolution." Andreas Umland, H-Net Reviews
"...on of the first books that seeks to explain change and continuity in the Soviet/Russian political system both before and after the Soviet collapse." Michael Mc Faul, American Journal of Sociology
Product details
March 1997Hardback
9780521562485
444 pages
229 × 152 × 25 mm
0.76kg
1 b/w illus. 2 tables
Available
Table of Contents
- Part I. The Pre-Political Context:
- 1. Politics and communism: figure and ground
- 2. Regime and opposition in the pre-political period
- Part II. Perestroika and the Return of Political Life:
- 3. Perestroika: renewal, transition or transformation
- 4. Glasnost, mass media and the emergence of political society
- 5. The informal movement: politics on the margins of the Soviet order
- 6. National elections and mass politics
- Part III. Politics and Revolution:
- 7. The politics of opposition
- 8. The 1990 elections and the politics of national liberation
- 9. Parties in movement: the articulation of Russian political society at the close of the Soviet period
- 10. Restoration and revolution
- Part IV. Ground Up: Politics in Post-Communist Russia:
- 11. Reform, reaction and rebellion: the calamity of the first republic
- 12. Neither democracy nor dictatorship.
