{"product_id":"9780199240418","title":"Russia's Stillborn Democracy?","description":"The 15 years after Gorbachev came to power were a tumultuous time for Russia. The expectations raised by perestroika were dashed, the collapse of the Soviet superpower followed, and a new Russian state claiming to base itself on democratic, market principles emerged. It also saw a political system shattered by a president turning tanks against the parliament, and then that president configuring the new political structure to give himself overwhelming power. These upheavals took place against a backdrop of social dislocations as the Russian people were ravaged by the effects of economic shock therapy. This book explains how these momentous changes came  about, and in particular why political elites were able to fashion the new political system largely independent of the wishes of the populace at large. It was this relationship between powerful elites and weak civil society forces which led to Russian democracy under Yeltsin being \"stillborn\".","brand":"Graeme Gill, Roger D. Markwick","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45744097755454,"sku":"9780199240418","price":1790.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4357\/7662\/products\/9780199240418_95f36b1d-8c69-45ca-9adf-8d991db9ddb4.jpg?v=1707223643","url":"https:\/\/exclusivebooks.co.za\/products\/9780199240418","provider":"Exclusive Books Online","version":"1.0","type":"link"}