Richard Sakwa - 25 Feb

RICHARD SAKWA is Professor of Russian and European Politics, and Head of the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent. He is also an associate fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House and the author of Putin Redux : Power and Contradiction in Contemporary Russia ; The Crisis of Russian Democracy ; Putin: Russias Choice ; Communism in Russia ; Russian Politics and Society ; The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union and Gorbachev and his Reforms .

Mikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky is one of the most significant figures of contemporary Russian history, despite, or because of, his 10 years of incarceration. Whatever the origins of his wealth, he has established himself through his letters and writings from prison as a leading conservative and rival in this regard to Vladimir Putin: a patriot and propagandist for the free market, and for a constitutional state. For many Russians he and his wife Inna are true descendants of the aristocratic Decembrists who rose up for freedom in 1825. Only Richard Sakwa, with his unrivalled detailed knowledge of contemporary Russia, would be able to respond so quickly to Khodorkovskys unexpected early release from prison with such a comprehensive account of his life to date, combined with a penetrating analysis of the significance of this crucial personality.

Bill Bowring, author of Law, Rights and Ideology in Russia: Landmarks in the Destiny of a Great Power

There is much that can be learned about Russias evolution in Khodorkovskys trajectory from Young Communist organiser to oil magnate, political prisoner to migr. Sakwas superb study is not only the best account yet of Khodorkovskys rise, fall and metamorphosis, but also uses his tale to explore the contradictions of Russian capitalism and governance in a way that contributes ably to our understanding of the country.

Mark Galeotti, Professor of Global Affairs, New York University

Richard Sakwa expertly retraces the accomplishments and trials of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, transporting the reader inside the boardroom, the courthouse, and the prison cell to elucidate how one mans personal experience has come to symbolise an entire era in Russian history. Sakwa further explores Khodorkovskys political journey, juxtaposing his career with Vladimir Putins and analysing Khodorkovskys prison writings to reveal his complicated relationship to power and his evolving views on law, liberalism, and civil society. Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand where Russia has been, and where it is going, Sakwa reveals the central contradictions of modern-day Russia and how the need to reform invariably collides with the absolute prerogatives of the Russian state.

William E. Pomeranz, Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies, Woodrow Wilson Center

Richard Sakwa has provided a lively, balanced, and insightful account of the rise, fall, and regeneration of one of Russias richest men and his confrontation with the countrys leader. The book offers revealing accounts of the two trials and their impact at home and abroad, and of the writings of Mr Khodorkovsky in prison, who emerges in this account as a thoughtful critic of Russian reality.

Peter H. Solomon, Jr., University of Toronto

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Copyright 2014 Richard Sakwa

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ISBN : 978 1 78076 459
e ISBN : 978 0 85773 480

A full CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
A full CIP record is available from the Library of Congress

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: available

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To the victims of the Yukos affair