Russian Society in Transition

Against the background of Russia's second parliamentary elections of December 1995, this book examines the social aspects of Russia's transition to the market. Chapters from UK and Russian specialists assess past, present and future developments in politics, economics and sociology, demography and the family, social structure, education, youth, the welfare state, labour policy, health care, civil society, national identity and law and order in the period from 1991-96. It is argued that the results of the recent December 1995 parliamentary elections and the communist and nationalist victories over the centrists demonstrate that declining living standards, the collapse of the welfare state, class conflict, rising unemployment, growing crime and the rise of the mafia might well adversely influence Russia's reforms and ultimately effect Russia's prospects of making a successful transition by the end of this decade.