Few countries have been transformed as rapidly and dramatically as Russia since the end of the communist regime. The result is a political system in which almost every aspect is a work in progress, marked by sudden accelerations, slowdowns, turnarounds, and conundrums: a democracy remarkably prone to undemocratic outbursts and practices, as well as strict control of the mass media, a republic whose central government can exercise almost unlimited power over its regions, an economy marked by low taxes and widespread corruption, a mix of private and government-owned enterprises, and a heavy dependency on exports of natural resources, an ambiguous combination of suspicion, emulation, and admiration of the West. This lively and innovative book provides a clear and comprehensive picture of Russian politics that does full-justice to its changes, challenges, and paradoxes. The second edition has been fully updated to cover important developments, including Putin's returns to the presidency. Book jacket.