How did Boris Yeltsin-judged by most analysts and politicians the obvious underdog going into the 1996 Russian presidential election-emerge as the clear winner? Was Yeltsin's landslide reelection as free and fair as it appears?
This volume reveals the reasons behind Yeltsin's victory and examines its impact on the future of electoral politics in post-soviet Russia.
In June 1996, for the first time in thousand years, Russian citizens were given the chance to select their head of state in a democratic election. Michael McFaul analyzes three major factors that combine to explain why Boris Yeltsin's victory, should have been expected, discusses the reasons behind Yeltsin's victory, and examines its impact on electoral politics in post-Soviet Russia.
How could Yeltsin possibly avoid defeat without falsifying the results or postponing the election entirely?
Michael McFaul analyzes three major factors that combine to explain why Yeltsin's victory should have been expected, namely, the
-"revolutionary" nature of the electorate's choicesIn addition to the analysis, McFaul offers possible scenarios for Russia's next presidential election, as well as the potential future of democratic consolidation in Russia.