Tackling Space Federal Politics and the Russian North

The North is intrinsic to the way most outsiders imagine Russia: snow, long winters and the endless Siberian forests. This inhospitable land contains immense natural wealth that is both a burden and an asset. Today's Russian authorities face the challenge of negotiating the North's obsolete, mono-industrial towns and its largely untapped natural resources. With its expert contributions from political science, economics, geography, and anthropology, this book represents the first comprehensive study in Western literature of federal politics towards the Russian North. In addition to mapping the scope for federal governance, it covers such important issues such as infrastructure development, natural resource management, environmental affairs, and policies towards indigenous peoples.