Whether it is the conflict in Syria, the Winter Olympics in Sochi or the crisis in Ukraine, the drama of Russia dominates the headlines, yet the political realities of contemporary Russia are poorly understood by Western observers and policy-makers. Dominant political narratives since the collapse of the Soviet Union have focused on themes of historical progress towards democracy, and more recently on the increasing turn towards authoritarianism, and the personal role of the Russian President Vladimir Putin as the major obstacle to Russia's development and reform. In this short and highly readable book, Andrew Monaghan explains why 'getting Russia right' really matters. He offers a robust critique of the mainstream view of Russia, reflecting on the evolution of Russia studies since the end of the Cold War. He goes on to frame the current situation, placing the Ukraine crisis in a long-term context and looking at the ongoing evolution in Russian domestic politics. In going deeper into these questions, his aim is to offer a more sophisticated means of interpreting Russia.
Monaghan explores in depth the relationship between the West and Russia, sketching out the evolution of relations and investigating the reasons behind the increasingly obvious sense of strategic dissonance. He examines the election year of 2011-2012, contextualizing the protest demonstrations and reflecting on the responses of the authorities. He introduces the reader to the evolving Russian body politic: both those who are at the top of power today and those who are forming the leadership and opposition of the future. The book makes a significant contribution to public policy and academic debate and is an essential read for students and scholars of Russian politics.