Publication

This briefing paper addresses the economic and political impact of the global financial crisis on Russia. The author argues that inasmuch as Russia's political system is infused with business interests and economic considerations, the crisis presents an external and unexpected challenge to the system in terms of rocking the balance between the elite groups. In effect, the crisis calls into question the assumption that the economic and social stability of the Vladmir Putin years has been successfully sustained during Dmitry Medvedev's presidency.