Politics and the Russian Army: Civil-Military Relations, 1689-2000
"This is a thorough, methodologically sound, and generally convincing piece of empirical research.  The theoretical issues are set out succinctly, and Taylor meticulously examines the available evidence in each of his cases, judiciously evaluating the merits of each explanation.  [A] fine piece of scholarship."   Ian Roxborough, Stony Brook University, American Journal of Sociology"Brian Taylor offers an insightful analysis of the Russian army's willful subordination to the state, whether it be tsarist, Soviet, or democratic, even when there were strong reasons to intervene.  This book deserves a place on the bookshelf of every student of civil-military relations."   Roger R. Reese, Texas A&M; University, Slavic Review"Politics and the Russian Army is the only study that covers the entire period of Russian civil-military relations from the seventeenth century to the present. Rarely do works in the field of comparative and international politics combine theoretical engagement and sensible research design with such state-of-the-art historical research.  Taylor's book will remain the definitive account of Russian and Soviet civil-military relations for the foreseeable future."   Matthew Evangelista, Cornell University"Better than any other previous work, Brian Taylor's rich combination of conceptual clarity and historical insight explains a great mystery--why the mighty army of an authoritarian empire has intervened so little in domestic politics for the last two centuries, even when the empire collapsed around it, as happened in 1988-91."   Dominic Lieven, London School of Economics"This important book combines solid social science theory, painstaking historical research, and carefully structured explanations of a fascinating phenomenon: the absence of successful military coups in Russia, seemingly 'against all odds.'  Anyone interested in civil-military relations will read it with profit."   Zoltan Barany, University of Texas