Russia had an extraordinary twentieth century; undergoing upheaval and transformation. Updating his acclaimed History of Modern Russia; Robert Service provides a panoramic perspective on a country whose Soviet past encompassed revolution; civil war; mass terror; and two world wars. He shows how seven decades of communist rule; which penetrated every aspect of Soviet life; continue to influence Russia today. This new edition takes the story from 2002 through the entire presidency of Vladimir Putin to the election of his successor; Dmitri Medvedev.
#1242147 in Books Harvard University Press 2008-03-31 2008-02-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x .77 x 6.13l; .95 #File Name: 0674027191308 pages
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Colonial Rhode Island's Legal Autonomy within the EmpireBy Ronald H. ClarkThis is a book of serious legal historical scholarship. Ms. Bilder is a Law Professor at Boston College Law School; and holds a Ph.D. in American history from Harvard. As such; portions of it may be heavy-going for the general reader; but enough of the general analysis comes through to make this a valuable resource for anyone interested in the judicary and colonial legal history. At issue is how tiny Rhode Island managed to maintain a very substantial degree of legal autonomy within the British Empire. To answer this query; Bilder focuses upon the central principle of the Empire that while "a colony's laws could not be repugnant to the laws of England [they] could differ according to the people and place" (p. 1). This principle was implemented as to all the American colonies; and gave each colony much maneuvering room to maintain a healthy degree of local autonomy. While we have an exceptional general overview of London v. colony in Joseph H. Smith's; "Appeals to the Privy Council from the American Plantations;" he obviously cannot probe in great detail any individual colony's experience with this system. That Bilder does do in taking up such topics as "Women; Family; Property;" "Personnel and Practices" (a very interesting chapter); "Religious Establishment and Orthodoxy;" and other issues. Her discussion of the Privy Council and the development of the appeal is particularly effective. Basically; over time; the "repugnance" and "divergence" principle was ambiguous enough to fuel an effective sharing of responsibilities within the Empire (sort of a variant of "salutary neglect"); though over time with the tightening of control from London this flexibility was constricted; prompting the American Revolution. Bilder's final chapter is probably the most valuable for the general reader and scholars alike. What effect did this experience with the "repugnancy principle" have on the development of judicial review within the new states; the institution of federal judicial review of state and Congressional legislation; and the evolution of federalism? In sum; a very fine contribution indeed by Bilder based upon impeccable research (the notes run over 80 pages) and an impressive command of the topic.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. An Essential ReadBy The Newport; RI ConnoisseurDr. Bilder's Transatlantic Constitution... brings a document that delivered a terribly troubled culture to a utopia with religious freedoms that America craves to this day. The book is a masterpiece for those interested in the roots of First Amendment rights; it is packed with fascinating detail about the force and effect of Dr. John Clarke's Rhode Island Charter of 1663; that document wherein; for the first time in history; a sovereign granted separation of church and state to a political entity.Transatlantic... is a must read for aspiring law students as well as historians and public figures. See a deeper review of this important work at [....]2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Welcome Back to the British World; "America"By W. PueMary Sarah Bilder has written a marvellous account of the workings of colonial constitutionalism in Rhode Island from the colonies founding to the American war of independence. The book is well researched and well documented. Though somewhat "heavy going" for a general readership; it is an excellent account of the constitutional principles that bound the English world in the colonial period. The last chapter illustrates the fidelity to English law that was manifest by rebel colonials as they formed their own state. A splendid book and well worth the effort.
