Destination in Doubt

Stephen Lovell is the author of The Russian Reading Revolution: Print Culture in the Soviet and Post-Soviet Eras (2000) and the prize-winning Summerfolk: A History of the Dacha, 1710-2000 (2003). He has written widely on topics in Russian social and cultural history.

'Usually Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union is the purview of political scientists, but in this short, smart book Stephen Lovell gives us a history of the catastrophes and resurgences that Russians have experienced since 1989. His account is lively and informed and offers both students and specialists facts and insights that will guide them through the vicissitudes of post-socialism.’Ronald Grigor Suny, University of Michigan'I would recommend this book to all those who look for non-trivial approaches to understanding the modern world.'Lev Gudkov, Yuri Levada Analytical Center'A short but acute study of the changes that have swept over the world’s largest country since 1989, and perhaps the best starting point to read about it that is now available in English.'Stephen White, University of Glasgow'....... striking stories about how ordinary Russians survived the disasters of the 1990s.'Pete Glatter, University of Wolverhampton'Marked by a sharp eye for detail and intelligent observation...Lovell has a firm grasp of detail and understands the dynamics of Russian development.'Richard Sakwa, University of Kent

• Introduction1. What Was Soviet Socialism?2. The State: Death and Rebirth?3. Democratization?4. Birth of a Nation?5. A Free Market?6. Surviving Post-Socialism7. Russia's War on TerrorAfterword