Law and the Russian State: Russias Legal Evolution from Peter the Great to Vladimir Putin

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Russia is often portrayed as a regressive, even lawless country, and yet the Russian state has played a major role in shaping and experimenting with law as an instrument of power. In Law and the Russian State, William E. Pomeranz examines Russias legal evolution from Peter the Great to Vladimir Putin, addressing the continuities and disruptions of Russian law during the imperial, Soviet, and post-Soviet. The book covers key themes, including: * Law and empire * Law and modernization * The politicization of law * The role of intellectuals and dissidents in mobilizing the law * The evolution of Russian legal institutions * The struggle for human rights * The rule-of-law * The quest to establish the law-based state It also analyzes legal culture and how Russians understand and use the law. With a detailed bibliography, this is an important text for anyone seeking a sophisticated understanding of how Russian society and the Russian state have developed in the last 350 years.

Reviews

This is what all Russia scholars need to know about Russian law This is an outstanding piece of work. It is concise at 169 pages of text, with good international and Russian references and delightful quotes. It offers an even treatment of three centuries and an uncommonly nuanced analysis with a good eye for what is formal and what is real. * Slavic Review *
William Pomeranz, Deputy Director of the Kennan Institute, has written a masterful history of Russia through a legal lens Readers whose primary interests lie well outside the field of Russian law will find important insights here into Russias political, social, and economic development Revealing with unusual clarity the conservative vs. modernizing strands of Russias legal development, Law and the Russian State provides a superb introduction to the field of Russian law. * The Russian Review *
Pomeranzs book is a treat for anyone interested in learning about the fundamental changes and continuities of Russian law ... , Pomeranzs book is highly recommendable. It does what good legal history sometimes succeeds in doing: it helps us to understand the contemporary world. * Comparative Legal History *
It is no small feat to encapsulate major points of 350 years of legal history into 169 pages of text, and this is done fluently, with good balance among the salient subjects. . . This is a volume well worthy of adoption for advanced undergraduate courses on Russian affairs and an excellent addition to a promising series. * Slavonic and East European Review *
Pomeranz is at his best when covering the period since formation of the Russian Federation. Nonetheless, by harking back to Peter the Greats reign, he provides just enough historical context to demonstrate continuity and change within a country that has both followed and curiously departed from the Wests legal trajectory. All of which makes Law and the Russian State a valuable addition to the literature. It is recommended for undergraduate and graduate students of history and law, and for experts in these fields. * Ab Imperio *
A lively and engaging account of law and legal development in Russia, past and present. It is unique in its emphasis on how law throughout Russian history has served the state. * Peter H. Solomon, Jr., Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto, Canada *
Most Westerners consider the Russian state lawless, but William Pomeranz shows the great importance Russians attribute to law. This is a scholarly and thoughtful guide to law, a little understood but crucial aspect of Russia's long history. It should become the standard work on its subject. * Geoffrey Hosking, Emeritus Professor of Russian History, University College London, UK *

Author Bio

William E. Pomeranz is Deputy Director of the Wilson Centers Kennan Institute in Washington, D.C., USA. He is a frequent commentator on current developments in Russia, providing analysis for CNN, NBC, NPR, Reuters, Bloomberg, and other media outlets. His scholarly publications include articles on Russian legal history and present-day Russian commercial and constitutional law.