Yeltsin's Russia and the West - (Humanistic Perspectives on International Relations) by Andrew Felkay (Hardcover)

About the Book

Throughout history, strong-willed Russian autocrats have rescued their country from foreign domination, disorder, and possible chaos, often using the cruelest means to achieve their ends. Gorbachev tried to implement socialism with a human face in the Soviet Union, but failed. In the early 1990s, once again, Russia needed a strong hand to pull it out of chaos. In August 1991 Boris Yeltin emerged as such a leader, but unlike earlier strong leaders, he was determined to pull Russia out of the Communist morass and affect his country's integration with Western democracies through democratic means.

Felkay carefully analyzes the impact of Yeltsin on the newly evolving relationship between Russia and the Western democracies. But separating the process of formulating foreign and domestic policies would be impossible. From the onset, Yeltsin kept both reins of decision-making firmly in hand. Accordingly, Felkay assesses Yeltsin's effectiveness in moving his country toward democracy and a market economy, and he shows the ups and downs of his pro-Western foreign policies. This book provides an important analysis for scholars, students, and other researchers involved with Russian studies, international relations, and comparative politics.

Book Synopsis

Throughout history, strong-willed Russian autocrats have rescued their country from foreign domination, disorder, and possible chaos, often using the cruelest means to achieve their ends. Gorbachev tried to implement socialism with a human face in the Soviet Union, but failed. In the early 1990s, once again, Russia needed a strong hand to pull it out of chaos. In August 1991 Boris Yeltin emerged as such a leader, but unlike earlier strong leaders, he was determined to pull Russia out of the Communist morass and affect his country's integration with Western democracies through democratic means.

Felkay carefully analyzes the impact of Yeltsin on the newly evolving relationship between Russia and the Western democracies. But separating the process of formulating foreign and domestic policies would be impossible. From the onset, Yeltsin kept both reins of decision-making firmly in hand. Accordingly, Felkay assesses Yeltsin's effectiveness in moving his country toward democracy and a market economy, and he shows the ups and downs of his pro-Western foreign policies. This book provides an important analysis for scholars, students, and other researchers involved with Russian studies, international relations, and comparative politics.

Review Quotes

.,."a well-written description of Yeltsin's background and presidential career....Felkay covers all the important issues and nicely shows the interplay between domestic and foreign policy....Recommended for general readers, lower- and upper-division undergraduates, and graduate students."-Choice

.,."provide a concise and readable review of the major developments in Russian politics, both domestic and foreign, in the first decade of independence."-The Russian Review

?...a well-written description of Yeltsin's background and presidential career....Felkay covers all the important issues and nicely shows the interplay between domestic and foreign policy....Recommended for general readers, lower- and upper-division undergraduates, and graduate students.?-Choice

?...provide a concise and readable review of the major developments in Russian politics, both domestic and foreign, in the first decade of independence.?-The Russian Review

..."provide a concise and readable review of the major developments in Russian politics, both domestic and foreign, in the first decade of independence."-The Russian Review

..."a well-written description of Yeltsin's background and presidential career....Felkay covers all the important issues and nicely shows the interplay between domestic and foreign policy....Recommended for general readers, lower- and upper-division undergraduates, and graduate students."-Choice

About the Author

ANDREW FELKAY is Professor of Russian Studies at Kutztown University. Among his earlier publications are Out of Russian Orbit (Greenwood Press, 1997) and Hungary and the USSR, 1956-1988 (Greenwood Press, 1989).