Aventuri în Rusia de azi

Peter Pomerantsev writes about life in Russia. In public life, truth and make-believe blur. He tracks fast shifts from communism through perestroika to market shock therapy. Shortages give way to vast wealth. Oligarchs gain power, and crime rules. In Moscow, gangsters take up art. Treasure hunters quote Pushkin. Bikers claim to be saints. People learn that their roles and beliefs need not last.

This is a work of nonfiction. It suits readers drawn to Russian life and state power. The Kremlin tailors its claims to groups abroad. It attacks the EU to win over Europe's right-wing nationalists. It opposes US power to draw the far left. It uses hostility to gay people to reach US religious conservatives. These groups do not share the same views. Yet each can help the Kremlin meet its goals. Russia Today then airs their support.

This form of power keeps changing its claims. Those shifts thwart its critics. Pomerantsev does not name Putin. He looks past the leader himself.

Adrian Ciubotaru translated the book from English into Romanian. That edition forms part of the Cartier istoric series.