Examines Russia's foreign policy, focusing on the summit meeting with US President George W. Bush in Moscow, the Rome summit forming a NATO-Russia Council, and summit with European Union leaders in Moscow.
A discussion of the election of President Vladimir Putin maintains that it represents the greatest potential for Russian political stability in almost 20 years but at the price of increased authoritarianism. Boris Yeltsin chose Putin as his successor in an effort to protect ill-gotten gains & suppress real reformers. However, the people's vote reflects a desire for order over chaos, & Putin's promise of a "strong state" allowed them to revert to the old Russian habit of submission to a supreme ruler. Strategies used by Putin to take control of the new Duma & later win the general election are described, along with his apparent policy goals related to both domestic & foreign affairs. It is contended that his theoretical embrace of democracy is complemented by a tightening of controls to discourage critics, as well as political & financial arm-twisting aimed at the subordination of private business interests to those of the state. How Putin will ultimately balance democracy/authoritarianism, regionalism/centralism, & free market/planned economy, is yet to be seen. J. Lindroth
Discusses how events since 1985 relate to the country's experience of revolution during the 20th century. Develops a "life cycle" of the Russian revolution, arguing that Gorbachev and Yelstin represent a fifth stage.