Preventing Nuclear Meltdown: Managing Decentralization of Russia's Nuclear Complex

The decline in central financing for Russia's nuclear complex and the known interest of terrorist groups in acquiring fissile material and technologies, has made the state of Russia's far-flung nuclear enterprises a pressing international issue. In this important volume, a group of leading US and Russian policy experts - drawing on extensive interviews with officials, facility personnel, and analysts in Russia's regions - explores the intersecting problems of Russian nuclear insecurity and decentralization, including the growing influence of regional, political and economic forces. The work presents insights into both nuclear safety issues and post-Soviet intra-agency governance, as well as detailed case studies of critical nuclear regions: the Far East, the Urals, Siberia, and the Volga area. The volume also offers major new findings on the interface linking Russia's evolving center-periphery relations, its ailing nuclear facilities, and the role played by foreign assistance providers.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Introduction: Russia's nuclear regions, James Clay Moltz. Federal Nuclear Agencies and the Regions: Center-periphery relations and Russia's nuclear infrastructure, Dmitry Evstafiev and Vladimir A. Orlov; Russian nuclear regionalism at the Federal Center, Nikolai Sokov and Adam N. Stulberg; Minatom's regional strategy, Sonia Ben Ouagrham; The military, the regions, and nuclear weapons, Michael Jasinski. Case Studies of Russia's Nuclear Regions: Nuclear issues in the Far Eastern Federal Okrug, Cristina Chuen; Nuclear issues in the Volga Federal Okrug, Ivan Safranchuk; Nuclear issues in the Urals Federal Okrug, Elena Sokova; Nuclear issues in the Siberian Federal Okrug, Dmitry Kovchegin. The Experience of US Assistance Programs and Conclusions: The implementation of US nonproliferation assistance programs in Russia's regions, Michael Jasinski and Charles Thornton; Nuclear decentralization in Russia: lessons learned and new directions, Adam N. Stulberg; Index.

About the Author :
JAMES CLAY MOLTZ, VLADIMIR A. ORLOV, ADAM N. STULBERG

Review :
'This book is a significant contribution to the field of Russian studies, political science, and economics, and will be of considerable interest to scholars in the field of nuclear proliferation. The authors - Russian and American - are all knowledgeable and many have direct experience in the nuclear field. The scholarship is of the highest quality, backed by authoritative sources. No other full-length work examines the nuclear issue in the context of Russia's regions. Preventing Nuclear Meltdown is a real contribution to our understanding of Russia's evolving federalism.' Charles E. Ziegler, University of Louisville, USA ’An interesting study not just of proliferation and Russian politics, but of the dynamics of federalism as well...Highly recommended.’ Choice '...the book makes a strong case for closer attention to the problems that nuclear facilities spread over the vast Russian territory have to deal with.' The Russian Review 'The book's strength lies in the depth of the research conducted and the importance of the topic being pursued...As a first, detailed study of this problem, this is an important work...These analysts have done a fine job laying the foundation for further empirical study and theorizing.' Slavic Review '...this book is one of those rare edited volumes that is extremely well researched and well thorught out with consistently high quality throughout that is a must read for those concerned with nuclear and/or Russian issues. It provides the reader with everything they need to know about Russia's nuclear complex but were afraid to ask (because some of the answers you may not wish to hear).' Slavonic and East European Review