State of Russia: What Comes Next?

Written by an international team of experts working on Russian development scenarios since 2007, this cutting edge Pivot examines Russia's reaction to the Ukraine crisis, and argues that subsequent decisions made by the Russian government have dashed hopes for Russia's modernization. Russia scholars whose expertise ranges from politics and economics to demographics and foreign policy analyse the changes that have occurred in Russia and address key issues such as foreign policy, the nature of the political and administrative system, the economy, relations between the centre and the regions, the state of Russian society and ideological facets of Putin's regime. Harsh confrontation with the West, isolationism within the country, militarization and increased government control of the economy, public and private space, as well as a crackdown on any independently-minded civic forces are all factors that have been rapidly obliterating gains made in the quarter of a century after the collapse of the communist regime. Both relevant and timely, this Pivot makes a key contribution to the debate on Russia's development and traces emerging trends in various spheres of Russian life, from the economy and foreign policy, to society and ideology.