Student Research Projects

Toxic combination: Post-communist Russia and Shock Therapy

Student Name(s)	Nicole Thurston
Faculty Mentor(s)	Dr. Laura Landolt
Department	Political Science
Course	POLS 499: Senior Seminar

Abstract

The paper seeks to examine the effects of economic ‘shock’ therapy on the Russian economy and government. I hypothesize that shock therapy had negative effects both on the Russian economy and on prospects for Russian democratization. I argue that domestic economic and political reform must be supported from the ‘bottom up’ instead of just by the elites. Without grassroots support for either project, instability will surely follow. I will use information from the New Russia Barometer to examine public opinion on economic reform, and link these findings to measures of economic development and political democratization over time.