Russia

by David M. Haugen (Editor), Susan Musser (Editor)

Overview

This vital volume explores Russia's role in international politics, and whether Russia is moving toward a democracy. Readers will analyze the relationship the West should foster with Russia, and how Russian culture is changing. The viewpoints are selected from a wide range of highly respected and often hard-to-find sources and publications. By choosing from such diverse sources including both popular and unpopular views, readers are exposed to many sides of a debate, which promotes issue awareness as well as critical thinking.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737769708
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	11/07/2013
Series:	Opposing Viewpoints Series
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

Table of Contents

Why Consider Opposing Viewpoints? 11

Introduction 14

Chapter 1 What Is Russia's Role in International Politics?

Chapter Preface 20

1 Oil, Carrots, and Sticks: Russia's Energy Resources as a Foreign Policy Tool Randall Newnham 22

2 Resurgent Russia? Rethinking Energy Inc Andreas Goldthau 41

3 Russia's Influence in the Middle East Threatens American Interests Ariel Cohen 58

4 Russia's Influence in the Middle East Remains Unclear Marcin Kaczmarski 71

5 Russia Will Gain an Advantage in Nuclear Arms Under New Treaties Robert G. Joseph 82

6 Both Russian and American Nuclear Arms Should Be Reduced Further Bruce Blair et al 93

Periodical Bibliography 106

Chapter 2 Is Russia Moving Toward Democracy?

Chapter Preface 108

1 Russia Is Moving Toward Democracy Mikhail Khodorkovsky 110

2 Russia Is Moving Away from Democracy Kathy Lally Will Englund 116

3 Soviet-Style Nationalism Has Cemented Authoritarianism in Russia Randall D. Law 124

4 Grassroots Organizations in Russia Are Leading a Civil Rights Movement Leon Awn 130

5 The Russian Government Undermines Civil Rights Yury Dzhibladze 145

Periodical Bibliography 153

Chapter 3 What Relationship Should the West Foster with Russia?

Chapter Preface 155

1 The United States Should Pass Legislation to Discourage Human Rights Abuses in Russia Robert Kagan David J. Kramer 157

2 US Legislation Will Not Be Effective in Combating Human Rights Abuses in Russia Raymond Sontag 163

3 Western Support for the Punk Band Pussy Riot Draws Attention to Russia's Authoritarianism Gideon Rachman 171

4 Western Support for the Punk Band Pussy Riot Has Obscured the Plight of Other Russian Dissidents Joshua Foust 176

5 The United States Should Not View Russia as a Strategic Partner Garry Kasparov 181

Periodical Bibliography 187

Chapter 4 How Is Russian Culture Changing?

Chapter Preface 189

1 Orthodox Religion Is a Socially Unifying Force in Post-Soviet Russia John P. Burgess 191

2 Teaching Orthodox Religion in Russian Schools Is a Return to Totalitarianism Mikhail Sitnikov 204

3 Television Is a Threat to Russian Youth and Culture Mikhail N. Berulava 216

4 Skinhead Violence Rising in Russia Mark Ames Alexander Zaitchik 225

5 A More Open Political System Would Thwart the Ambitions of Russia's Ultranationalists Daniil Davydoff 232

Periodical Bibliography 237

For Further Discussion 238

Organizations to Contact 242

Bibliography of Books 248

Index 251

Editorial Reviews

Review: Russia "Each volume in the Opposing Viewpoints series could serve as a model...not only providing access to a wide diversity of opinions, but also stimulating readers to do further research for group discussion and individual interest. Both shrill and moderate, the selections—by experts, policy makers, and concerned citizens—include complete articles and speeches, long book excerpts, and occasional cartoons and boxed quotations...all up to date and fully documented. The editing is intelligent and unobtrusive, organizing the material around substantive issues within the general debate. Brief introductions to each section and to each reading focus the questions raised and offer no slick answers."—Booklist

From the Publisher