Ebook: Bandits, Gangsters and the Mafia: Russia, the Baltic States and the CIS since 1991

Cover; Half Title; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; List of Maps, Figure and Tables; Preface; Acknowledgements; Map 1: The Russian Federation; Chapter 1 How and Why Did It Happen?; The roving bandit and the stationary bandit; The hedgehog and the fox; Khalyava; Power and property; Property rights; The Marxist-Leninist legacy; Who is to blame?; Chapter 2 Brilliant Tactical but Disastrous Strategic Policies: the Gorbachev Era; The planned economy; Reforms from Khrushchev to Gorbachev; Enter Gorbachev; The new team; Perestroika; The 500-day programme; Glasnost.;During the 1990s, the ""roving bandits"", big business or the oligarchs, stole Russia. They gained influence over President Yeltsin and his government, and gradually shaped policy in their own interests. In this first comprehensive account to explain why Russia took the course it did, Martin McCauley examines the period through the prism of government, including Yeltsin's shadow government, and looks at the military, police, security and intelligence services. Relations between Moscow and the regions, industry, agriculture, social policy and foreign policy are also explored.