Book Discussion: Failure: Russia Under Putin, by eds. Harley D. Balzer and Steven A. Fisher

Session Submission Type: Book Discussion Roundtable

Brief Description

Failure. Russia Under Putin examines the significant failures Russia has faced under Vladimir Putin’s leadership and presents an important counterpoint to a broad range of studies emphasizing Russia’s resurrection, status as a persistent power, or successful military reform. Despite Putin’s claims of restoring Russia’s rightful place in the world, reviving the economic and industrial capacity destroyed in the 1990s, and improving living standards, data show that the gains from the oil price bonanza of 2000-2008 have long since vanished. The success Putin has achieved in centralizing power and repressing opposition now prevents any effective changes to address Russia’s long-term decline.
Failures include the inability to diversify the economy, reduce corruption, reverse demographic and educational decline, alleviate poverty, or address social inequalities. Russia’s relative success in agriculture is threatened by climate change and continued dependence on imported technology. Putin’s policies have exacerbated internal ethnic and regional tensions, while failing to promote regional development. Interventions in Syria and Ukraine have been blatant geopolitical failures. Recent military reforms have proven largely superficial. Despite Putin’s personal relationship with China's Xi Jinping, Russia has not received significant economic aid or investment. Initiatives to develop the Russian Far East and maintain influence in Russia’s near abroad have failed. Russia is left with partners that favor transactional relationships rather than mutually beneficial development. This volume details how Putin's policies have severely limited Russia's development and institutional stability, leaving the country without a clear leadership transition mechanism or capacity to abandon flawed policies.

Sub Unit

• History: Since 1990

Chair

• Steven Allan Fisher, Independent Scholar

Roundtable Speakers

• Harley D. Balzer, Georgetown U

• Peter Clement, Columbia U

• Andrea Kendall-Taylor, CNAS

• Maria Snegovaya, Johns Hopkins U

• Brian D. Taylor, Syracuse U