Bribery and Blat in Russia: Negotiating Reciprocity from the Middle Ages to the 1990s

by Stephen Lovell (Editor), Alena V. Ledeneva (Editor), A. B. Rogachevskii (Editor)

For several centuries, the Russians have been famous for the number of transactions they conduct through unofficial channels. This book, the first sustained attempt to explain and analyze Russian society's reliance on unofficial "give-and-take," focuses especially on two key practices: bribery (the use of public office for private gain) and blat (the informal exchange of favors). It brings together specialists from a wide range of disciplines.

295 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Stephen Lovell is professor of modern history at the King's College, London. He received his MA and PhD from the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), University of London, after studying for his BA at King’s College, Cambridge.