Russian Business Power: The Role of Russian Business in Foreign and Security Relations

This book examines how the connections between the Russian state, business community, and organized crime influence Russia's foreign and security policies, including its relations with the countries of the former Soviet Union, European Union, Asia and the Middle East. While earlier studies have focused separately on Russian foreign policy, the evolution of the business sector, or the growing crime problem, this book integrates these topics to gain a deeper understanding of how Russia's domestic evolution affects relations with its neighbors. It brings together in an overarching conceptual framework the impact of large corporations such as Gazprom and LUKoil, and small business networks active in the shadow economy of separatist regions in Georgia, the porous Russian-Kazakh border and the Far East. Individual chapters analyze key sectors in the Russian economy, including energy, arms, banking, forestry and drugs. By focusing on Russian business in all its forms, this book provides new insights into largerquestions of conflict resolution and the role of the private sector in international and security relations.