Some Aspects of American Assistance to Russian Regions at the End of the Twentieth Century

Yuliya A Tarasova,Lyubov S Bolshakova,Svetlana V Zhukova,Yelena Yu Pantzeva

doi:10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s5p85

Abstract

This article examines the role of the US in Russia’s transition to democracy and market economy, US-Russian relations on the regional level and the influence of discontents in US-Russian political relations on their economic ties and US assistance programs to Russian regions. The authors discuss the reasons of technical assistance shifting from the centre to the Russian regions in 1997 and the implementation of Regional Investment Initiative there. Special attention is paid to American assistance programs in Samara region. Russian reforms were created in Washington but they were developing with greater difficulties than it was expected earlier by both sides. Deep changes in Russian foreign policy and American-Russian relations at the end of the twentieth century led to decreasing of American investments to Russian regions. Nevertheless, in authors’ opinion, the RII Program played a significant role in social development of some Russian regions and broadening of the American-Russian “grassroot-level” ties. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s5p85

Highlights

The American-Russian relations had the great influence on the development of the world community in the twentieth century
In the beginning of the 1990s, the changes of political system and economy were necessary for Russia and its government was ready to accept financial and technical assistance of Washington, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank on any conditions
Observing the US assistance to Russian reforms in the 1990-s we may say the influence of this country was overwhelming and most of decisions on the way and the time of reforms were made in Washington

Summary

Introduction

The American-Russian relations had the great influence on the development of the world community in the twentieth century. The authors are going to discuss three questions: the role of the USA in Russia’s transition to democracy and market economy, US-Russian relations on the regional level, especially in the frame of Regional Investment Initiative, the influence of discontents in US-Russian political relations on their economic ties and the results of the RII Program for economic, cultural and social US-Russian cooperation To investigate these problems four methods of research were used: the analysis of archival data (the materials of the Departments of Samara Government, GAO Reports, etc.); the analysis of secondary sources (works of other researchers); running records (newspaper articles; ongoing series of statistical data).

American Assistance to Russia’s Transformation

Choosing the Participants for Regional Investment Initiative

The RII Program Features and Results

Findings

Concluding Remarks