Russia's oil barons and metal magnates : oligarchs and the state in transistion

The interesting aspect of Fortescue's book is how he manages to present the Russian oligarchs in a somewhat more favourable light. By now, the predominant view inside and outside Russia is that the oligarchs acquired their assets by virtually looting the new post-communist nation. When ownership and rules were extremely vague. The book steps through the 90s, looking at the top companies ruled by the oligarchs. Like Yukos or Norilsk Nickel. The author describes numerous managerial decisions made, like centralising authority, or continuing to open or close mines. The mechanisms of transfer pricing are explained. Where often value was extracted from the companies and then moved overseas. A key part of the book is how taxes are paid (or not) to the government. The minimisation of this was a major charge against them, in the eyes of the government. The book does suggest that some of the oligarchs' actions were reasonable business decisions, in the context of their environments. Russia's Oil Barons and Metal Magnates contains a critical analysis of the claims made against oligarchs. In doing so, it presents a detailed analysis of the place of the oligarchs in both the metals sector and in the Russian political economy. Russian politics has been dominated over the last decade or more by the relationship between the so-called oligarchs and the state. The oligarchs are the super-wealthy business people who came to dominate the economy, and some would say the political system as well, under Yeltsin, but who have had to cope with a far more difficult head of state in the person of Vladimir Putin. Existing studies of the oligarchs and their relationship with the Russian state tend to be damning on two grounds: they obtained their wealth and power corruptly, and rapaciously stripped the assets over which they had so dubiously gained ownership. While the author would not wish to be seen as a 'revisionist friend of the oligarchs', nevertheless this book is distinctive in that it undertakes a critical analysis of each of the claims made against them. In doing so the book presents a detailed description and analysis of the place of the oligarchs in the contemporary Russian political economy, including of the extraordinary Yukos affair "Fortescue has produced a scholarly work of the first order, which repays reading not only by those with an interest in political economy but also by those interested in broader problems of political development."--Richard Sakwa, Europe-Asia Studies Volume 59 Issue 7 ' ... this is a detailed, intricate and thoroughly referenced work.' - Mark Galeotti, The Slavonic and East European Review ' Anyone wanting a relatively concise version of the background to the case and the course of events to 2006 will find it hard to do better' - William Tompson, Birbeck College, University of London, 'This book is an elegant, clear and concise examination of the most powerful contemporary Russian businessmen - where they came from, what they do and where they are going ... The book advances out knowledge of the post-Soviet order and should certainly be read by anyone attempting to understand the 'Putin way' and its origins' - Australian Journal of Political Science Russian politics has been dominated over the last decade by the relationship between the oligarchs and the state. This book contains a critical analysis of each of the claims made against them. In doing so, it presents an analysis of the place of the oligarchs in both the metals sector and in the Russian political economy. Russian politics has been dominated over the last decade by the relationship between the oligarchs and the state. The existing literature is damning of the oligarchs on two grounds: they won their wealth and power corruptly, and rapaciously stripped the assets they had so dubiously obtained. "Russia's Oil Barons and Metal Magnates" contains a critical analysis of each of the claims made against them. In doing so, it presents a detailed analysis of the place of the oligarchs in both the metals sector and in the Russian political economy "Existing studies of the oligarchs and their relationship with the Russian state tend to be damning on two grounds: they obtained their wealth and power corruptly, and rapaciously stripped the assets over which they had so dubiously gained ownership. While the author would not wish to be seen as a 'revisionist friend of the oligarchs', nevertheless this book is distinctive in that it undertakes a critical analysis of each of the claims made against them. In doing so the book presents a detailed description and analysis of the place of the oligarchs in the contemporary Russian political economy, including a study of the extraordinary Yukos affair"--Jacket

Russian politics have been dominated over the last decade by the relationship between the oligarchs and the state. The existing literature is damning of the oligarchs, on two major grounds: they won their wealth and power corruptly, and rapaciously stripped the assets they had so dubiously obtained. This book contains a critical analysis of each of the claims made against them. In doing so it presents a detailed analysis of the place of the oligarchs in the Russian political economy.

Who are the barons and magnates? How did they get rich? The economic performance of the barons and magnates Oligarchy and political power Taxation in the resource sector The Yukos affair The aftermath of Yukos.