Neoliberalism and the Law in Post Communist Transition: The Evolving Role of Law in Russia's Transition to Capitalism

by Ioannis Glinavos

Overview

This work examines ideas about the role of law and legal reform in the creation of market economies, focusing on the process of post communist transition in Russia. Processes of transition in Russia were guided by a set of very specific neoliberal ideas about the nature of markets and capitalism, about the role of law and the primacy of the economic over the legal and political. These ideas however have come under fire as a result of the Russian experience of transition and the serious problems encountered by reforms. This led to a revision of the original neoliberal ideas, not least concerning the role of law and its relationship to the economic and the political. The result has been the emergence of a much more complex body of ideas about the role law plays in economic transformation.

This book aims to close a gap in the literature on post communist transition by offering a theoretical interpretation of Russia’s experience which makes transition reform models comparable to development reform models. Focusing on the role of law and the relationship of economic priorities to law reform, this work offers a critical evaluation of currently dominant theories of economic and legal reform put to use in varied transition and development scenarios. In looking at the ideas which directed and animated reform in Russia, an enquiry is thus made into the wider relationship between democracy, regulation and the market in contemporary capitalism.

Neoliberalism and the Law in Post Communist Transition will equip scholars and students of development studies, law, political economy and international economics with a critical guide to transition focused on the often neglected legal aspect of the reforms.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415486545
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/10/2010
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ioannis Glinavos is Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Westminster, UK.

Table of Contents

1. Markets and Law 2. The Command Economy 3. Instant Capitalism 4. Responses to Instant Capitalism 5. Second Stage Reforms 6. Neoliberalism Revisited

Editorial Reviews

"The author has written a passionate critique on neoliberalism, and his analyses of the treatment of the rule of law in the discussions on reform—in Russia and elsewhere—are well worth reading; his conclusions that one cannot dismiss politics and law from economic policy, and that distribution issues matter, are convincing." Joop de Kort, Review of Central and East European Law 36 (2011)

From the Publisher