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Stephen White, Alex Pravda & Zvi Gitelman (eds), Developments in Russian Politics 4. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1997, xvi + 304 pp., 42.50 h/b, 13.99 p/b.
EVEN BEFORE 1991 the pace of political and economic change in the Soviet Union had complicated the task of selecting a text for a Russian or Soviet politics class. Since the Soviet collapse that task has become virtually impossible: by the time new texts are in students' hands they already seem stale. It is therefore cause for some celebration that this new version of White, Pravda and Gitelman's edited volume on post-Soviet development comes along to offer overburdened instructors some relief from constantly revising coursepacks of mismatched articles.
The editors of this collection have made two important strategic choices that enhance the usefulness of the book. First, they have chosen to narrow its focus exclusively to Russian politics-there is no discussion of non-Russian successor states or even of the Commonwealth of Independent States. By sacrificing comprehensiveness the editors are able to achieve a welcome depth in their coverage of Russia. In addition to obligatory chapters on political parties, elections and economic reform, there are also useful discussions of health care (Judith Shapiro), women's issues (Mary Buckley), foreign policy (Alex Pravda) and human rights (Robert Sharlet).
Second, the book features a unified index and bibliography, and a concise chapter-by-chapter guide to further reading, all of...