What kind of capitalism for Russia? A comparative analysis

Post-communist governing elites had a vision of a transition to a type of s ociety characterised by wealth, markets, private ownership, democracy and c ivil society. The transformation in Russia is analyzed in terms of company structure, economic outcomes and patterns of social integration, elite and class fragmentation. On the basis of a comparative political economy, diffe rent models of capitalism are defined (competitive or market-led and cooper ative or negotiated). The Russian economy is defined as a perverse chaotic social formation. It is contended that policy should move towards a state-l ed "negotiated" type of capitalist system. (C) 2000 The Regents of the Univ ersity of California. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.