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Oligarchs and Corruption in Putin's Russia: Of Sand Castles and Geopolitical Volunteering
- Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
- Georgetown University Press
- Volume 18, Number 2, Summer/Fall 2017
- pp. 26-32
- 10.1353/gia.2017.0017
- Article
- Additional Information
Abstract:
The article analyzes Russia's elite corruption from domestic and international perspectives. While corrupt proceeds make Russian elites invested in the political system, corruption also acts as a destabilizing force in Russia. I argue that corruption is a double-edged sword for the oligarchs and the Kremlin alike. As a competitive kleptocracy in which corrupt elites have the option of international exit via offshores, Russia currently lacks any clear "top-down" path toward the rule of law. Furthermore, the country's elite corruption presents political problems for the West. The article concludes with some policy recommendations.