Since the last edition of this book was published, the political and economic situation in Russia has changed significantly. The former president Boris Yeltsin signified a close proximity to the Soviet era, while the country seems to have moved on to a new national identity with the election of national leader Vladimir Putin. Russia, Third Edition offers comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of recent and past events in this country. Providing a valuable look at a country that was the heart of one of the world's superpowers in the cold war, this volume explores the history, social conditions, environmental problems, and political and economic changes in the world's largest nation with admirable clarity and objectivity. In this new edition the author surveys the presidency of Vladimir Putin, including his foreign policy and relationship with the West; the issue of privatization and the ""new Russian oligarchs""; and the war in Chechnya.