Improvising at Kremlin

Abstract

Russia throughout its history has been repeating cycles: from reform to conservative consolidation, from international conciliation to confrontation, and from defense to expansion. This is because Russia cannot be fully incorporated in the mainstream of the global economy, as it largely lacks a capacity for self-sustained economic development. The direction of today’s Russia is ambiguous with a mixture of contradictory elements: conciliation and anti-Americanism, desire to join the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and conservative consolidation of its society.

Financial support from the Nomura Foundation and the University of Niigata Prefecture is gratefully acknowledged.