This unique book explores the problems of the national crisis management system in Russia, a country undergoing political, social and economic transition and one which is also prone to natural and man-made disasters. In detailing policy, institutional and legal issues and illustrating a number of case studies, the authors offer new ways of resolving the effects of disasters as well as increasing resilience by improving our understanding of the risks and vulnerabilities.

In the book six chapters offer case studies of various types of disaster written in a unique collaboration between Russian scientists, Russian policy makers and Swedish scholars. Other chapters relate the role of mass media in Russian society and policy development. Taken together the book details changes in a crisis management system, policy and approach in a country that has undergone rapid fundamental political economic and social change.

Contents: Introduction, Boris Porfiriev and Greg Simons; Part I Transitional Crisis Management Policy and Russia: Crisis management and mass media in Russia: following the historical perspectives, Dmitry Strovsky; The institutional framework and governance model of the Russia crisis policy: disaster focus, Valery Akimov and Boris Porfiriev. Part II Crisis Development and Management: Case Studies of Environmental and Technological Disasters: Managing alleviation of the 1995 Neftegorsk earthquake disaster: a reminiscence, Boris Porfiriev; Managing the ecological disaster in the town of Karabash, Alla Mozgovaya; Communicating tragedy and values through mass media during crises: the lessons of submarine accidents in Russia, Greg Simons. Part III Crisis Development and Management: Case Studies of Social and Political Conflicts: Social security policy for the Chernobyl clean-up and rescue workers: crisis chronology and lessons, Elena Shlykova; Institutional issues and the management of the creeping crisis in the Karbardino-Balkaria Republic of Russia, Alla Yazkova; Political and institutional factors of the Russian banking crisis 2004, Alexander Libman. Part IV Transitional Crisis Management Policy: from Hypothesis to Findings: Vulnerability and crisis development: lessons from Russia and other emerging economies, Boris Porfiriev; Conclusion: crisis management policy in transitional societies - beyond the Russian experience, Boris Porfiriev and Greg Simons; Index.

About the Editor: Greg Simons, Crisis Management Europe Programme at Crismart (Centre for Crisis Management Research and Training) at the Swedish National Defence College, Sweden. Boris Porfiriev is Head of the Risk and Crisis Research Center and Head of the Laboratory for Analysis and Forecasting of Natural and Technological Risks for Economic Development at the Institute of Economic Forecasting, Russian Academy of Sciences, and Director of the Center for Environmental and Technological Research at the International Research Institute for Advanced Systems, Russia.

Reviews: Offers a unique overview of this giant’s weaknesses. The overlapping of responsibilities, and the tendency to mix institutions from different eras of development and institutional cultures, show how problematic incomplete reform is combined with the huge impact that civil emergencies and man-made crisis can have for an enormous centralized but anarchic bureaucracy.’
Iulian Chifu, Conflict Prevention and Early Warning Center, Romania

‘In the increasingly interdependent world under circumstances of globalization, crises management in Russia is a significant issue, not only for countries like Latvia which are situated in the neighbourhood of this regional power, but for the whole of Europe. This study, involving both Russian and Western scholars, makes a great contribution to the field.’
Ainars Dimants, Turiba University, Latvia

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Full contents list

Introduction

Index