The Strong State in Russia: Development and Crisis

The Russian state presents a mystery to outside observers. Although Russia was the site of some of the last century's most radical upheavals, and although Russian governments are usually characterized by autocracy, corruption, and political decay, the central government has retained a remarkable hold on the vast country. Does its historical progress represent change, or continuity? How has the political culture molded the expectations and behavior of the Russian people over time? What features of the Russian state are the keys to understanding it? The Strong State in Russia provides a succinct account of Russia's "strong state" model by reviewing the external and internal contexts in each major period and tracing its evolution over time. Every era saw the emergence and growth of a strong state as well as a subsequent decline, but in each the contexts combined in unique ways to produce very different political outcomes. Tsygankov argues that while the Western perspective on Russia is limited, there is an alternative way of thinking about the nation and its problems. Despite focusing on the contemporary Russian state, the book situates it in a broader historical continuity and explains that the roots of its development can be found in the Tsar's autocratic system. Russia's strong state has evolved and survived throughout centuries, and that alone suggests its historical vitality and possible future revival. From this perspective, the central scholarly question is not whether Russia will recreate a strong state, but, rather, what kind of a strong state it will be, and under which circumstances it will likely function.

About the Author :
Andrei P. Tsygankov is Professor of International Relations and Political Science at San Francisco State University. His latest books are Russia and the West from Alexander to Putin and Traditions of Russian Political Thought.

Review :
"The book provides a valuable insight into the Russian political system and interprets its failure to democratize. It calls for a more complex view of authoritarian and democratic elements that co-exist in Russian political culture." --Peace Research: The Canadian Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies "Andrei Tsygankov's The Strong State in Russia interprets Russian history from the pre-tsarist era to the present, with chapters dedicated to some of the most important issues facing Russia today. Arguing for a deep continuity in Russian politics, Tsygankov's interpretation will challenge many notions about Russia widely accepted in the West. Clear and engaging, the book is well suited for the classroom and will also be of great interest to all seeking to understand this important country." --Henry Hale, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University "Indeed, as the political scientist Andrei Tsygankov reminds us in The Strong State in Russia, in the wake of previous catastrophic breakdowns during the past thousand years, whether triggered by rebellion from within or invasion from without (or both), Russia has always reestablished a strong, centralized state." -Benjamin Nathans, The New York Review Of Books