Russian Social Policy from Boris Yeltsin to Vladimir Putin: An Interpretation

Title: Russian Social Policy from Boris Yeltsin to Vladimir Putin: An Interpretation 

Author: Sanjukta Maharana
ISBN: 978-93-82395-82-9
Publisher: Ruby Press & Co.
First Edition: 2015
Language: English
Binding: Hard Cover

About the Author:

Sanjukta Maharana is currently working as a Research Assistant, Centre for research in rural and industrial development, (Ministry of External Affair), Chandigarh.

Sanjukta has done MA in Political Science (Gold Medalist) from Sambalpur University, Burla, Odisha, M. Phil in International Politics from Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and Ph.D. Thesis Submitted in International Politics, Centre for Russian and central Asian studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The Author has also published Articles in various national and international magazines and attended various national and international seminar and conferences.

About the Book:

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) emerged as a super power after the Second World War. At that time all social responsibilities were taken care of by the socialist state. In 1991 the Soviet disintegration saw the transition from state controlled planned economy to market based economy and various economic reforms like Gaider reforms had severe impact on social policy of Russia which led to decline in standard of living, poor health facilities, poor educational facilities, costly higher educational facilities, unemployment and poverty, leading to overall decline in the status of Russian society from 1991 to 1999. Withdrawal of the state from social sector resulted in the deterioration in social living standard of people during Yeltsin’s period. 

This work is most interesting now because drastic changes have taken place in Russia since the Soviet disintegration. But at what level society is changing from time to time is most important, because the society is the nucleus around which all other activities like political as well as economic take place. By focusing status of social condition during Yeltsin’s Presidency and Putin’s Presidency, one can know whether it is getting better or worse.

President Putin claimed that the growth in gross national production of Russia during his Presidency reflected the improving social and economic condition of Russians. But in this research work it would attempt to collect data on per capita income of people which reflects the financial condition of the people. The human development indicators used in this analysis reflects the standard of living. This will also study whether the reforms which were carried out were helpful for improving the social status of Russian.

This book covers the social policy of new Russia (from 1991 to 2008). This book is confined to the territory of new Russia only, and does not cover other former Soviet republics. This book indicates that the social welfare system between 1991 and 1999 was extremely poor but during Putin’s period it improved to some extent. Various reforms were carried out to eradicate the old difficulties.