Russian History A Very Short Introduction [Paperback]

Russia's sheer size has made it difficult to mobilize resources and to govern effectively, especially given its harsh climate, vast and vulnerable borders, and the diversity of its people. In thisVery Short Introduction, Geoffrey Hosking discusses all aspects of Russian history, from the struggle by the state to control society to the transformation of the nation into a multi-ethnic empire, Russia's relations with the West, and the post-Soviet era. Hosking, a leading international authority, examines Russian history in an impartial way, arguing that Good Russia and Bad Russia are one and the same. He also evaluates important individuals in Russian history, from Peter the Great and Catherine II to Lenin and Stalin.

Introduction
1. Kievan Rus and the Mongols
2. The Formation of the Muscovite state
3. The Russian Empire and Europe
4. The Responsibilities and dangers of Empire
5. Reform and revolution
6. The Soviet Union's turbulent rise
7. The Soviet Union: triumph, decline and fall
Chronology
Further Reading
Glossary

Geoffrey Hoskingis Emeritus Professor of Russian History at University College London.