Inequality and Social Structure during the Transition by Vladimir s> Mikhalev (review)

Abstract

784 SEER, 82, 3, 2004 cycle of hostility,but it is a solution that is likelyto lead to renewed conflictin the future'(p. 271). Gorenburg'sanalyticalstrengthis generated by the consistencywith which he uses historical institutionalist methodology in order to account for the variationsin differentminorityethnicmobilizationsin the RussianFederation. Besides,his comparisonof the qualitativefindingsfromTatarstan,Chuvashia, Bashkortostan and Khakassia with the quantitative data on Russia's other thirteen republics in chapter eight shows his ability to deal with qualitative and quantitativesetsof data in a very sophisticatedmanner. The volume is a product of extensive research. Throughout, Gorenburg substantiateshis argumentswith data fromfieldworkin these republicsaswell as official documents, public opinion polls and surveys. The book is rich in tables and figures which makes it easier for readers to see the interplay of complex setsof factorsin minorityethnic mobilizationsacrossRussia'sethnic republics. Gorenburg achieves all of his three main objectives;first,in developing an institutionalist account of minority ethnic mobilization in the Russian Federation;second, in showingthatthe capacityof governingelitesto mobilize ethnic groups depends on the extent to which ethnicity is institutionalizedby state structures;and finally, in shiftingthe study of ethnic mobilization from the whysof its emergence to the howsof its development as a political force (p. xi). I would like to make one suggestion, however. It would have been very interesting had Gorenburg devoted a separate chapter to the Chechen case because Chechen nationalists,unlike other cases of minority ethnic mobilization in Russia, demanded outrightindependence, and adopted a very radical strategy of confrontation with Moscow. Although Gorenburg examines the statisticaldata on Chechnia in chaptereight, the majorityof readersare likely to expect a more detailed discussionof this unique and widely discussedcase in a book on minorityethnic mobilizationin the RussianFederation. All in all, Gorenburg's excellent study deserves to be widely read by all those interestedin this highly topical issue. I recommend it enthusiasticallyto all specialistsin Russianaswell as nationalismstudies. MiddleEastTechnical University OKTAY F. TANRISEVER Ankara, Turkey Mikhalev, Vladimir (ed.). Inequality and SocialStructure duringthe Transition. Studies in Development Economics and Policy Series. Palgrave, Basingstoke and New York, 2003. xiv + 313 pp. Figures. Tables. Notes. Index. ?55.00? THISedited collection examines the processes and outcomes of social change acrossthe statesof Central and EasternEurope (CEE)and the FormerSoviet Union (FSU) with specific focus placed on the determinates of inequality, poverty, and changes in social structurewithin these states. The book is divided into two sections. PartOne examines and testsvarious theoretical approaches in order to determine the direction and extent of REVIEWS 785 income stratificationundertransition.It looksin depth at the changes in social class; elites (chapter four); the middle classes (chapter five) and the poor (chapter six). Part Two undertakes several country-based case studies examining income stratification and emergent inequalities in settings as diverseasthe Czech Republic (chapternine)andKyrgyzstan(chaptereleven). The collection makes a significantcontribution to the field, but is, however, undermined by two chapters (two and seven) that should have at least been subjectedto substantiallymore editing or droppedaltogether. Chapter two (authored by Timo Piirainen) attempts to build on the excellent overview of the topic presented in chapter one by examining some of the determinants of change within the social structuresof the transition states. While this chapter begins promisingly, with Piirainen making a distinction between income and so-called 'life chances' to access goods and services in exchange for this income through a Weberian lens, it quickly becomes laboured. The reader is offeredmany descriptionsof these so-called 'life chances' when one would have sufficed, in addition to a four-page descriptivereasoning as to why Weberianapproachesofferthe researcherthe most scope when examining this issue. He then goes on to make conclusions about the determinants of widening income disparitieswithin the transition states, adding little to that offered in chapter one, or making substantial referenceto the Weberiantheory he was at such pains to describe.This being the case, this reviewerfelt that this chapter should have eitherbeen subjected to some substantialediting or eliminated from the collection altogether as it addslittleto the body of workand is clumsilyconstructed. Similarly,chapterseven (authoredby Nodari Simonia)examining inequality and social structuresin Russia during the transitionperiod, should again have eitherbeen droppedfromthe collection, recommissioned,or broughtup to date. Unfortunately, as it states from the outset, it only contains data and analysis up to (but not including) 2ooo, thus substantially reducing...