Reforms twenty years on - openDemocracy

Russians, be horrified at yourselves!

Russia’s problems are many and varied – low life expectancy and falling population figures, soaring rates for crime, alcoholism and drug abuse, not to mention ubiquitous corruption. In a country rich in natural resources, half the population lives in poverty. Andrei Konchalovsky takes us through t

By Open democracy

/ 9 Mar 2012

Flowers on a dung heap: markets, politicians and the demise of Russian rural life

The economic and political transformations of the 1990s onwards have allowed much of the Russian countryside to die a slow death. Roman Yushkov and Vassily Moseyev ventured out of the city to examine the extent of the dilapidation and deterioration of rural life in their native Perm region.

By Open democracy

/ 26 Jan 2012

Russian economy: trying to please people doesn’t help

20 years ago there was all to play for: the USSR was defunct and Russia was embarking on a bright future. But the much-needed economic reforms have had patchy success. Every time they took a step forward, the government lost both popularity and its nerve. Now the Kremlin no longer has the funds to

By Open democracy

/ 18 Nov 2011

Privatisation, but no private property

Privatisation was one of the beacon words of Yeltsin’s presidency, but, with the possible exception of housing, there has been no development of private property or attendant protected rights. Property in Russia still belongs to a small clique of top dogs and woe betide anyone who gets across them

By Open democracy

/ 17 Nov 2011

Is corruption in Russia's DNA?

It is difficult to think back to a time when corruption was not endemic in Russia. It is now crippling the country, yet it is still low on the list of immediate concerns for most ordinary Russians. Why is there so little will to fight it, asks Pyotr Filippov?

By Open democracy

/ 16 Nov 2011

The Russian banking system: between the market and the state

For the last 20 years Russian attitudes to banks have been ambivalent. From no trust at all to feverish delight at the interest rates delivered by the oil boom and back to severe doubts during the recent crisis period. Competition needs to develop and the banks need to come out of the hands of the

By Open democracy

/ 15 Nov 2011

Russian reforms, twenty years on

Dmitry Travin presents a new week-long series on openDemocracy Russia

By Open democracy

/ 14 Nov 2011

Russia’s crony capitalism: the swing of the pendulum

Cronyism has always played a significant part in Russian political and economic life, so the arrival on the scene 20 years ago of crony capitalism was no surprise. It has been through various stages over that period, ending up with the ‘predatory state’ that exists in Russia today. Vladimir Gelman

By Open democracy

/ 14 Nov 2011