Russia in 2020: Scenarios for the Future

Maria Lipman and Nikolay Pertov

As Vladimir Putin prepares to return to the presidency in the 2012 elections, the prospects for Russia's future are unclear. Russia in 2020 brings together leading experts from Russia, the United States, and Europe to analyze the possible scenarios for Russia’s development in the next decade and the risks that lie ahead.

Despite Putin's imminent return, the authors believe that the so-called Putin era is over. This does not mean that Putin will soon give up power, but the political and economic system he created is incapable of dealing with Russia’s rapidly changing conditions. Crises are likely unavoidable unless Russia changes and modernizes.

Maria Lipman and Nikolay Pertov Maria Lipman is an expert in the Society and Regions Program at the Carnegie Moscow Center and editor of the Center's Pro et Contra journal. She has had a monthly op-ed column in the Washington Post since 2001.

Nikolay Petrov is a scholar-in-residence in the Society and Regions Program at the Carnegie Moscow Center.