This book analyses the influence that oil and gas have on various sides of Russia's
contemporary internal and foreign policy. On the one hand the factor oil and gas enabled the
ruling elite to strengthen the state institutions and to stabilize Russia's political and
social system after decades of instability. Relying on the new economic opportunities
contributed to the growth of revenues of the mass sections of population and owing to the
increased export of natural fuel resources Russia significantly strengthened its influence on
international politics. But on the other hand authoritarian tendencies increased in politics.
The contributions of this book inquire into the gradually declining role of independent actors
in relation to the government and the increasing authority of the elites in power who continue
to represent their corporate interests as being national ones.
