These are my notes on chapter 9 of Orlando Figes’ immensely readable History of Russia. The previous chapter dealt with the revolution and the Bolshevik victory in the Russian civil wars. This one is about Soviet history in the 1920s and ’30s. New Economic Policy In the early 1920s, as they won the civil war […]
The Story of Russia by Orlando Figes 3: the rise of Stalin
The Story of Russia by Orlando Figes 3: the rise of Stalin
15 Oct 2026 Leave a comment
in economic history, Marxist economics Tags: Russia
The Story of Russia by Orlando Figes: 1 (2023)
15 Oct 2026 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economic history, war and peace Tags: Russia
In Soviet times, when Communism was its certain destiny and history was adjusted to reflect that end, there was a joke, which perhaps Orwell had in mind: ‘Russia is a country with a certain future; it is only its past which is unpredictable.’ ‘The Story of Russia’ by Orlando Figes, page 4) No other country […]
The Story of Russia by Orlando Figes: 1 (2023)
Trump’s Plan To Buy Russian Diesel Would Violate Federal Law
15 Oct 2026 1 Comment
in defence economics, energy economics, politics - USA, war and peace Tags: Russia, sanctions, Ukraine
If laws passed by Congress do not apply to presidential actions, then we no longer live in a democracy.
Trump’s Plan To Buy Russian Diesel Would Violate Federal Law
Trump, Putin, and the Game of Doing Nothing: This Week in Dumb Diplomacy
18 May 2025 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, defence economics, war and peace Tags: game theory, Russia, Ukraine
How is the Russian war economy doing?
08 Dec 2024 1 Comment
in applied price theory, defence economics, development economics, economic growth, economics of regulation, entrepreneurship, fiscal policy, growth disasters, income redistribution, industrial organisation, international economics, law and economics, macroeconomics, monetary economics, property rights, Public Choice, war and peace Tags: Russia, Ukraine
Here is a gloomy account from Vladimir Mirov: Ruble depreciation will contribute to inflation even further, as Russia is continued to be heavily reliant on imports – this is a kind of self-sustaining spiral. I also strongly disagree with those who say that cheaper ruble is “good” for exporters and the budget. Exporters have yet […]
How is the Russian war economy doing?
Economic Sanctions on Russia: Ineffective or Insufficient?
19 Aug 2024 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, defence economics, international economic law, international economics, International law, politics - USA, war and peace Tags: Russia, sanctions, Ukraine
Russia had of course already invaded Ukraine back in 2014, but in February 2022 it dramatically escalated the earlier invasion. The U.S. and Ukraine’s allies met Russia’s invasion two years ago with an unprecedented set of sanctions. They put a price cap on Russian oil exports, froze $300 billion worth of Russian foreign exchange reserves,…
Economic Sanctions on Russia: Ineffective or Insufficient?
Oh Canada: Government Blocks Citizenship Due to Russian Conviction for Criticizing the Ukrainian War
07 Jan 2024 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, war and peace Tags: free speech, political correctness, refugees, regressive left, Russia, Ukraine
I have long been a critic of Prime Minister Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who has devastated free speech in that country while assuming sweeping authoritarian powers. Now, his administration has blocked the citizenship of Maria Kartasheva because she has a conviction in Russia. The crime? Free speech. Kartasheva was convicted in Russian for criticizing…
Oh Canada: Government Blocks Citizenship Due to Russian Conviction for Criticizing the Ukrainian War
Wagner Opera: Coup Prospects and the Fate of the War
26 Jun 2023 Leave a comment
in defence economics, war and peace Tags: Russia, Ukraine
How Wagner’s Advance Unfolded Within 24 Hours | WSJ
25 Jun 2023 Leave a comment
in defence economics, war and peace Tags: Russia, Ukraine
The Sanction-Fueled Destruction of the Russian Aviation Industry
09 Oct 2022 Leave a comment
in defence economics, international economic law, international economics, International law, law and economics, property rights, transport economics Tags: Russia, Ukraine
The Hardliner’s Dilemma: The Hidden Threat to Putin’s Regime
09 Oct 2022 Leave a comment
in defence economics, war and peace Tags: game theory, Russia
Ukrainian protestor kicked out of Stop the War Corbyn Rally
03 Mar 2022 Leave a comment
in defence economics, Marxist economics, war and peace Tags: Russia, Ukraine
Why didn’t the Tsar Flee Russia During the Russian Revolution?
19 Nov 2021 Leave a comment
in defence economics, war and peace Tags: Russia, Russian revolution, World War I
Recent Comments