Brill Russia and Its Constitution: Promise and Political Reality (Law in Eastern Europe): 58

The Constitution of the Russian Federation was ratified in 1993 amid great hopes and aspirations following the collapse of the USSR. The constitution proclaims the goal of establishing a "democratic, federal state" that functions according to rule of law and promises a broad array of social, political and economic rights to its citizens. But how well has the Russian government lived up to realizing these promises? Seven distinguished scholars on Russian politics and law examine the state of political accountability, federal power-sharing, judicial independence, press freedom, and criminal procedure in Russia today. The picture that emerges is decidedly mixed; they conclude that the Russian constitution remains a work in progress. About the Author Gordon B. Smith, Ph.D. (1976) in Political Science, Indiana University, is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Walker Institute of International and Area Studies at the University of South Carolina. He has published extensively on Russian politics and law including "Reforming the Russian Legal System" (Cambridge, 1996). Robert Sharlet, Ph.D. (1968) in Political Science, Indiana University, is the Chauncey Winters research Professor of Political Science at Union College. He is the author of seven books and numerous articles on Russian politics and law, including editor of "Public Policy and Law in Russia" (Martinus Nijhoff, 2005).