The rapid changes in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union are often bewildering, with many frequent, highly significant changes in the different sectors of the economy and the political system. There have been frequent changes of personnel in government and economic management and many changes have been reversed - and sometimes forgotten, or at other times reinstated. What happened when? Who was responsible for what? Did such a change in one sector precede or follow a particular c...

First published in 1990, A Guide to the Socialist Economies explores the evolution of a variety of economic systems in the socialist world and highlights major problems facing fourteen countries – Albania, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, the GDR, Hungary, North Korea, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, the Soviet Union, Vietnam and Yugoslavia –against a background of continuous change, characterized by such events as the Berlin blockade, the Korean war, the Hungarian revolution and...

There is much intense interest in North Korea at present. This partly arises from questions about Korea's nuclear capability and intentions, and about the extent to which North Korea may be viewed as 'a rogue state' or part of 'the axis of evil'. In addition, however, North Korea has recently begun experimenting with reforms along Chinese lines. The vigour with which these will be pursued, and related questions about the degree of engagement, or otherwise, with South Korea are also importa...

This book provides full details of contemporary economic and political developments in Vietnam. It continues the overview of developments up to late 2005 which were covered in the author’s Vietnam: A Guide to Economic and Political Developments (also published by Routledge, 2006). Key topics covered include Vietnam's success, in general, in maintaining high rates of growth in the face of problems such as inflation and the global financial crisis; continuing economic reforms; forei...

This book provides a comprehensive overview of political developments in Russia since late 2000, following on from where the author’s previous publication, The New Russia, left off. It covers all aspects of politics including the following: the highly centralized nature of power in Russia; central government and presidential elections; regional government and developments in the republics, including unrest in Chechnya and the other Caucasian republics; and human rights. Taking a chronologi...

First Published in 2004. This remarkable book continues the work begun by Ian Jeffries in Socialist Economies and the Transition to the Market: A Guide (1993) and A Guide to the Economies in Transition (1996). Focusing on China, Cuba, Mongolia, North Korea and Vietnam, Jeffries provides an extensive guide to countries in a state of economic flux. Analysing major political as well as economic events in these five countries, the author also looks at issues such as the impact of the Asian fin...

There is currently widespread interest in the Chinese economy, due to its huge and rapid growth, and the consequent impact on world business and the world economy. At the same time, there are concerns about China's political system, China's human rights record and the degree to which reform - the development of 'socialism with Chinese characteristics' - represent real liberalization.Providing an overview of earlier events in order to set the context in which economic and political ...

This book provides a comprehensive overview of Russia’s difficult economic transition from a command economy since the early 1990s. It covers the financial crisis of August 1998 and the global financial crisis a decade later. Key subjects covered include economic transition, privatization and liberalization; changes in land ownership and agriculture; energy; foreign direct investment; economic stabilization; and economic performance. Russia is well endowed with raw materials, especially oi...

This book provides a unique level of coverage of economic and political events of global significance, including foreign trade, foreign direct investment, the impact of oil and natural gas finds, Islamic extremism, the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and the reaction of the CIS countries and the war on international terrorism. It will provide an invaluable source of reference for all those interested in transitional and developing countries. The author presents a c...

North Korea continues to be a country of great concern internationally, where future developments are uncertain, especially as a result of the succession to the leadership of Kim Jong-un following the death of Kim Jong-il. It is also a country which is relatively unknown and relatively little studied. This book provides a comprehensive, detailed survey of economic and political developments in the last few years. As such it provides many insights into the current trends which are likely to...

Winning the Vietnam War proved easier than winning the peace. Since 1975, the reunited country has faced the problem of how a poorer, planned economy in which state ownership and control could successfully absorb a more advanced, capitalist economy. In addition, the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War heralded a new age in Vietnam’s internal and external relations.Vietnam traces developments since the end of the Vietnam War, including recent economic reforms,...

China’s role in global events today cannot be overestimated.This book provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of contemporary political developments in China. Key topics covered include: China's international relations with its neighbours and with the international community more widely; demographic developments; Taiwan; Macao and Hong Kong, Tibet, Uighurs; human rights, health issues (including bird flu); food contamination and defective goods; and a chronology of political...