List of Tables - Preface - List of Tables - The Spatial Context of Intended Transformation - Traditional Soviet Regional Policy - Russian Regional Roulette: Asymmetric Federalism and Economic Change - The Revitalisation of Nomenklatura Power in the Altai - The Rise of Authoritarian Power in Russia's Gateway to Pacific Asia - Gateway Versus Agrarian Region: Institutional Restructuring and Economic Adaptation - Conclusion - Endnotes - Appendix - Bibliography - Index

This book focuses on the evolution of federalism and intragovernmental relations in Russia for the period 1992-95 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Its main question is whether under conditions of democratisation and marketisation in Russia an authoritarian approach of 'transformation from above' is more favourable to one of granting more autonomy to local governments. The author suggests a scale of various reform implementation policies based on two pioneering case studies of Russian provinces.