Search

This article examines the failure of Soviet and post-Soviet leaders to transform Russia's socioeconomic life in the ten years since the collapse of the USSR. Issues include a historical perspective of Russia's economic policy, the means of economic development, and the role of the state.

This article examines the historical president for governor-generalships in the political management of the new federal districts of post-Soviet Russia by exploring 18th and 19th century political experiences and the difference between governors and governor-generals. The author discusses the prehistory of local administrative institutions in Russia, the criteria of local governments, historical reforms to local governments, military governorship under imperialism, concerns of central authorities over the powers of territorial administrators, the governor-generals' role and the creation of commissars after the Revolution abolished them; reforms to the system since 1991 are considered.

This article discusses the Russian Federation's laws regarding the defense industry as prescribed in the 1993 Constitution and the 1996 Law on Defense, including the balance of power between heads of state and legislative bodies. Issues include the social unity of government and the organizational aspects of law regarding defense of the nation; the role of the president of the Russian Federation is examined, including his role in appointing leaders of executive branches and military commanders.

This article provides several opinions on the Russian leadership's response to the sinking of the 'Kursk' in August of 2000, including the commander of the Northern Fleet's refusal to accept assisstance from NATO countries and President Vladimir Putin's delayed response to the incident and his decision not to discipline the high command. Issues include the investigation of the submarine disaster, and the emotional reactions to both the accident and the government's response to it.

This article discusses Yevgeny Primakov's 8 monthes as Prime Minister of Russia in 1998-99, examining his handling of the economic crisis, why he was successful when his predecessors had not been, who gained from his dismissal and who lost from it, and what were the political consequences of that period. Issues include Primakov's efforts to strengthen Russia's unity and federal structure, securing politically and economic stability and improving Russia's foreign and domestic policies.

The article contains four chapters from Vladimir Potapenko's 'From the Time of Troubles to the Present Day.' Subjects discusses include Russian history, the political maneuvering of Joseph Stalin, and the respective governments of Khrushchev and Leonid Il'ich Brezhnev.

Issues examined concern the collapse of the Russian economy beginning in 1997, and the political and economic turmoil that have since gripped the country. Topics addressed include the leadership of Boris Yeltsin and Viktor Chernomyrdin, the devaluation of the ruble, the implementation of a market economy, and Russia's international economic relations.

The centralized appointment of regional governors mitigates the worst abuses of elected soviet authorities but at a grave risk of undermining the development of democratic values. Many of those appointed have been widely accused of overstepping their authority and acting autocratically. Yeltsin, already distrusted by liberal observers for the constitution he passed and with a regime discredited by widespread failure of economic reforms, may have created a worse problem than what he tried to fix. The rise of a new, centralized bureaucracy reminds many of the pre-Gorbachev USSR.

Russian reserve paratroop Gen. Aleksandr Lebed is a staunch supporter of political reform. He placed third during the June 16, 1996, presidential election. After two days, he was appointed as head of national security by Pres. Boris Yeltsin. After another two days, Lebed removed several corrupt Russian officials from power.

President Vladimir Putin has appointed lgor Yusufov as energy minister. Yusufov's predecessor, Alexander Gavrin, was dismissed in February for failing to solve a prolonged energy crisis in the far east [...]

Yeltsin fired his entire cabinet on Mar 23, 1998, shocking many. He even fired Viktor Chernomyrdin, his very loyal prime minister. Yeltsin claimed he fired them due to their inability to solve Russia's economic problems, but some wonder if the decision indicates that Yeltsin is losing his ability to govern the country.