'Iulia Shevchenko...combines an insider's account of the contemporary Russian scene with a deep awareness of Western political science...Shevchenko provides a nuanced account of the changes that have occurred from Gorbachev to Putin in the power and authority of the different institutions of the central government...Students and scholars looking for a cool, commanding and detailed examination of this turbulent and exciting period will be greatly rewarded in reading this book.' Karen Dawisha, Miami University, USA 'Iulia Shevchenko...has performed a tremendous service to scholarship in compiling essential factual information about the composition and structure of the Russian government over a period of extremely rapid change.' The Russian Review 'This is the first detailed study of the role and activities of the Russian government...in the political system of the Russian Federation during the reign of President Boris El'tsin and the first term of President Vladimir Putin...a welcome and useful contribution...this study provides an extremely effective guide to the activities of the government of the Russian Federation during the last fifteen years.' Slavic Review '...this book fills an important gap in the literature on Russian politics.' Slavonic and East European Review