Covering the major contours of any Russian politics course, and comprehensive enough to serve as a core text, this new reader includes sections from the Soviet political system and its collapse, to the debate about post-Communist transition and efforts toward political and economic reform. Ostrow′s choice of readings is guided by a central insight: To understand contemporary Russia, and to bring the study of Russian politics to life, students need to know that there are strongly competing interpretations of Russian politics past and present—and these interpretations are best represented by watershed examples of the voices in the debate.

A former journalist who worked in Russia, Ostrow′s substantial headnotes blend needed background with insights from his experience, to create a nuanced treatment of Russian politics.