Putinomics: Power and Money in Resurgent Russia

When Vladimir Putin first took power in 1999, he was a little-known figure ruling a country that was reeling from a decade and a half of crisis. In the years since, he has reestablished Russia as a great power. How did he do it? What principles have guided Putin's economic policies? What patterns can be discerned? In this new analysis of Putin's Russia, Chris Miller examines its economic policy and the tools Russia's elite have used to achieve its goals. Miller argues that despite Russia's corruption, cronyism, and overdependence on oil as an economic driver, Putin's economic strategy has been surprisingly successful. Explaining the economic policies that underwrote Putin's two-decades-long rule, Miller shows how, at every juncture, Putinomics has served Putin's needs by guaranteeing economic stability and supporting his accumulation of power. Even in the face of Western financial sanctions and low oil prices, Putin has never been more relevant on the world stage.

About the Author :
Chris Miller is assistant professor of international history in the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Review :
With a thumbs-up on his metrics and sympathies, Miller's effort represents a solid contribution to literature and readers' understanding.- Choice; ""Miller challenges the popular notion that Russian President Vladimir Putin's entire talent lies in using corruption to sustain a kleptocratic authoritarian regime. . . . [A] short and admirably clear book.""- Robert Legvold, Foreign Affairs; ""Clear explanations and sophisticated nuance can be seen throughout the book. Each chapter provides a compelling description and explanation of the key events in the Putin era and regularly dispels common simplifications or stereotypes about Putin's policies.""- H-Net Reviews; ""An essential book for anyone interested in Russia and foreign policy.""- National Interest; ""A timely update on Russia's economic policy and its challenges. . . . Detailed empirical descriptions, clear and nuanced explanations of complicated processes as well as historical contextualization make the book accessible for a broad audience of scholars and non-scholars alike.""- Journal of Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society; ""An engrossing read . . . easily readable and digestible. . . . It is rare to wish that a book were longer. Essential reading for anyone seeking not only an understanding, but an underlying logic to what can often seem like the black box of policy making in the Kremlin.""- Slavic Review; ""Miller's Putinomics presents a well-structured review of the Russian Federation's political economy under Putin's rule.""- Post Soviet Review; ""Chris Miller has written a more nuanced study of the contemporary Russian economy than one might expect in the present intellectual climate.""- The Herald; ""Understanding the internal dynamics of contemporary Russia is more important than ever. Putinomics is a valuable contribution to that task.""- Financial Times; ""Putinomics provides a careful, comprehensive, and analytic assessment of the economic policies that have sustained Vladimir Putin in power in Russia over the last two decades. Professor Miller argues persuasively that some of Putin's fiscal and monetary policies have fostered economic stability and growth, while other politically-motivated policies have stifled investment and long-term development. Explaining these complicated dynamics between politics and economics in Putin's Russia is the great strength of this must-read book.""- Michael McFaul, Stanford University