First published 2011
David E. Hoffman chronicles how Russia transformed from communist state to capitalist economy in the chaotic years following the Soviet Union's collapse. He focuses on the small group of businessmen who seized control of the country's vast natural resources and industrial assets during the privatization process of the 1990s. These men, who became known as oligarchs, accumulated unprecedented wealth and political influence through a combination of shrewd dealmaking, political connections, and ruthless competition. Hoffman traces their rise from the early days of perestroika through the tumultuous Yeltsin era, showing how they navigated the lawless business environment that emerged as old Soviet institutions crumbled. The book reveals how these powerful figures shaped Russia's economic and political landscape, ultimately influencing the country's relationship with the West and its internal power structures. Through detailed reporting and extensive research, Hoffman provides readers with an inside look at one of the most dramatic economic transformations in modern history.
Genres: history, 20th-century, business, political-science, economics, non-fiction, 21st-century, russia
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, power-dynamics
Setting: Russia
Period: 1990s
608 pages · Kindle Edition · PublicAffairs