Russia is a long-standing authoritarian state despite its regularly held “democratic” elections in which opposition parties contest for representation in the country's legislative body and for the presidency.
Unlike the period 100 years ago, Russian society today is not marked by violent conflict and mass slaughter between contending political forces seeking control of the country's government. Michael Foley's “Russian Civil War” reminds readers how the grip of authoritarianism took root and what it meant — and means — for Russia's current place in the world.
The book revisits the formative, violent period in the Russian Revolution, in which the autocratic Czarist monarchy did everything in its power to crush the opposition movements that attempted to overthrow it. It is authoritative and it is dramatic.
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