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. 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. Yeltsin breaks with GorbachevThe 19th party conference The Congress of People's Deputies and the Supreme Soviet Conflict within the party First President The 28th party congress Desperate measures Russia awakes Gorbachev assailed President Yeltsin The attempted coup of August 1991 Yeltsin triumphant Nationalities Foreign policy Eastern Europe Workers Enterprise leasing Why did the military allow the Soviet Union to disintegrate? Gorbachev's legacy The mafia The KGB and the mafia The clan chiefs emerge Why did the Soviet Union disappear? Chapter 3 Tsar Boris the Bruiser: the First Presidency, 1991-96Yeltsin's team Confrontation in the Congress of People's Deputies The Civic Union appears The President and the 7th Congress Conflict resumes On the offensive Towards a new constitution The final thrust The spoils of victory The constitution and the first Duma The Federal Assembly The President's life-style Political reactions Budennovsk The Duma tests the President's power Negotiating a peace The Duma elections of December 1995 The election results The presidential race The electoral campaign The planned coup. Campaigning Chubais styleKorzhakov's final gamble Chapter 4 Tsar Boris the Boozer: the Second Presidency, 1996-99 Lebed framed Yeltsin reasserts himself The banking war Yeltsin and the October compromise Berezovsky goes The book scandal Yeltsin revitalised Chernomyrdin goes Enter Kirienko Russia devalues and defaults Enter Chernomyrdin Enter Stepashin Enter Putin The New Duma The Tsar departs Chapter 5 The Tsar's Court: The Presidential Administration, the Security Council and the Government The development of the administration. The presidential administration during the second presidencyThe Security Council Other security agencies Other advisory agencies Government Chapter 6 Colonels and Spies: Defence, Internal Affairs and the Security Forces The military The Russian ministry of defence Russian military doctrine Retreat Transdniestria The first Chechen war, 1994-96 Interbellum The second Chechen war, 1999- Health, drug abuse and Aids in the military Nuclear arms Military reform and doctrine Internal affairs Security The security market Barannikov departs The kompromat wars Enter the FSK. Russia at the end of the twentieth century was a nation that had suffered through and survived two World Wars and two equally cataclysmic Revolutions - those of 1917 and 1989. Through the 1990s Russia struggled to overcome its recent past and forge a capitalist future. But there were too many opportunists and no control. Instead of a brave new world in the wake of the overthrow of communism there emerged chaos as the country nearly went off the rails altogether. The hero and villain of this book is Boris Yeltsin. Riding the tide of popular acclaim in 1991 he presided over the gradual collapse of the Russian state. He thought of himself as Tsar and held court. Those nearest the Tsar enriched themselves the most. He did not mind, providing they were loyal to him personally. He took to booze and his health declined. He became an international joke.The 1990s are examined through the prism of government: the President's shadow government; the military; police; security and intelligence services; the relations between Moscow and the regions; industry; agriculture; social policy and foreign policy. So much for Russia. Have the other former Soviet republics followed the same path? The Baltic States have not, but the others have to varying degrees. This is the story of the Yeltsin era. Russia has now entered the Putin era. The Soviet national anthem has been restored and the Imperial double eagle is on the national flag. Russia is going backwards. When will it go forwards? Martin Mccauley. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 419-425) And Index.