Richard Sakwa is Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent.

'The Crisis of Russian Democracy is an important book, an elegant and impressively well informed interpretation of what really goes on in Russian politics. Its account of the Putin–Medvedev succession should be a fundamental reference for all future work on the Putin period.' Henry E. Hale, George Washington University

• 1. The dual state in Russia; 2. Succession struggles and electoral contests; 3. Political power and factionalism; 4. A genuinely political economy; 5. Managed succession; 6. War of the Putin succession; 7. Duma selection; 8. Presidential succession; 9. Medvedev's challenge; 10. Conclusion: transcending the dual state.

Richard Sakwa is Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent.

'The Crisis of Russian Democracy is an important book, an elegant and impressively well informed interpretation of what really goes on in Russian politics. Its account of the Putin–Medvedev succession should be a fundamental reference for all future work on the Putin period.' Henry E. Hale, George Washington University

• 1. The dual state in Russia; 2. Succession struggles and electoral contests; 3. Political power and factionalism; 4. A genuinely political economy; 5. Managed succession; 6. War of the Putin succession; 7. Duma selection; 8. Presidential succession; 9. Medvedev's challenge; 10. Conclusion: transcending the dual state.

Richard Sakwa is Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent.

'The Crisis of Russian Democracy is an important book, an elegant and impressively well informed interpretation of what really goes on in Russian politics. Its account of the Putin–Medvedev succession should be a fundamental reference for all future work on the Putin period.' Henry E. Hale, George Washington University

• 1. The dual state in Russia; 2. Succession struggles and electoral contests; 3. Political power and factionalism; 4. A genuinely political economy; 5. Managed succession; 6. War of the Putin succession; 7. Duma selection; 8. Presidential succession; 9. Medvedev's challenge; 10. Conclusion: transcending the dual state.