Too Much of a Good Thing? High Oil Prices and Russian Monetary Policy
The gloom that followed the August 1998 financial crisis has given way, in some circles, to euphoria. In the first half of 2000, the Russian economy grew by 7.5% compared…
Ukraine, Russia, and US Policy
Although Ukraine was briefly independent at the end of World War I and was occupied by the Nazis during World War II, those were the only gaps in the roughly…
The Russian Constitution and Foreign Policy: Regional Aspects
Internationalization is in progress on a global scale as national governments respond to an expanding range of international linkages, economic interdependence, and the demands of policy issues that can no…
Russia’s Views on Cruise Missiles in the Context
The abysmal state of Russia's conventional forces has caused Moscow to rely on nuclear weapons to ensure its security. This reliance was formalized in Russia's military doctrine, which states that…
What Drives Russia Coverage in the Mainstream American Press?
Foreign affairs coverage in the mainstream media in the United States–centering on the wire services, the newspapers of record (The New York Times, The Washington Post), and the major television…
The New Federal Structure: More Centralized, or More of the Same?
Almost immediately after being sworn in as president in May 2000, Vladimir Putin began restructuring the institutions that regulate center-periphery relations in the Russian Federation. In part, Putin has expressed…
A Sober Second Look: Reassessing the Logic of Missile Defense
Debates regarding American implementation of a national missile defense (NMD) and theater missile defense (TMD) systems designed to shoot down incoming nuclear missiles have so far focused on such issues…
Western Perceptions of Russian Nationalism
In the past decade, Russian nationalism has become a popular topic among Western scholars, journalists, and commentators. Although not an entirely new theme among Russia-watchers, nationalism achieved a level of…
Consolidation of the State and Economic Policy Scenarios Under Putin
Russia is currently on the edge of a third stage of economic and political reform. The first stage (1985-1991) was political liberalization. Transformation of the communist political and ideological regime…
Still Hobbling Along: An Update on the Russian Banking System
In the aftermath of Russia's August 1998 financial crisis, many observers had hoped that genuine reform and restructuring would occur in the Russian banking sector. Unfortunately, almost two years after…
The Dictatorship of Law in Russia: Neither Dictatorship, Nor Rule of Law
During the course of the 2000 presidential campaign, Vladimir Putin announced the idea of a "dictatorship of law" as a core part of his presidency. His pre-electoral message and state…
Putin and the Provinces
Since Vladimir Putin became Prime Minister of Russia in August 1999, and especially since he assumed the presidency on December 31, he has placed a high priority on reasserting federal…