In March 2000 Vladimir Putin was elected President of the Russian Federation. Within a few years Putin's radical reforms in domestic and foreign policy have made a major impact on Russian politics and society, bringing a new orientation in Russia's relations with the West. But is Putin an authoritarian or a democrat? Does his presidency signal a break with Russia's past or is he just another autocratic Tsar in modern clothing? Bringing together a team of internationally renowned scholars, Russian politics under Putin provides a critical analysis of Putin's domestic and foreign policies. This is a comprehensive and highly accessible account of contemporary Russian politics, covering key areas such as leadership and regime change, political parties and democratisation, economy and society, regional politics, the war in Chechnya, and Russian foreign policy. The book provides indispensable reading for intermediate, final year and postgraduate students studying Russian Politics, Comparative Politics or International Relations.