Richard Sakwa is Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent at Canterbury. He is the author of Soviet Politics: An Introduction and of Gorbachev and His Reforms 1985-1990; in addition, he has edited Ruslan Khasbulatov's The Struggle for Russia.

'Should be on the shelf of anyone seeking to make heads or tails of the problems of Yeltsin's Russia.' - The Guardian'The most comprehensive and detailed analysis and assessment of post-Soviet Russian politics to be found in a single volume. No student can afford to miss it.' - Journal of Area Studies'Recognised as one of the most comprehensive and indispensable guides to contemporary Russian politics since it was first published in 1993, this third edition provides a thoroughly updated and expanded text to include the end of Yeltsin's government and his replacement by Vladimir Putin.' - KnowEurope

• Part 1: The Fall of Communism and the Rebirth of Russia Part 2: Political Institutions and Processes Part 3: Federalism, Regionalism and Nationalism Part 4: Economy and Society Part 5: Foreign Policies Part 6: Dilemmas of Democratisation