Russian Pendulum

Russian Pendulum takes readers on a compelling journey to Russia, where tradition, modernity, power and informality collide. Through the lens of ambivalence, Alena Ledeneva reveals the patterns that have defined Russia’s destiny for centuries. At its core lies an intricate system of informal networks that are held together by cooptation, control and camouflage practices.

For readers seeking to go beyond stereotypes, this book offers a nuanced exploration of Russia’s complexity and unpredictability: the ever-moving Russian pendulum; the paradoxes and hidden practices that resolve them; and the patterns that are both universal and context-bound, such as doublethink, double standards, double pendulums, zigzags, cascades and many more. Art and music in each chapter enrich the narrative, offering non-verbal avenues to grasp the deep structures of informal power and patterns of ambivalence that make them elusive. Drawing on interdisciplinary insights, the book connects Russia’s unique paradoxes to universal patterns of informality.

Based on the Global Informality Project (www.in-formality.com) and three volumes of The Global Encyclopaedia of Informality (UCL Press, 2018 and 2024), this book is a thorough examination of Russia’s complexities. It is perfect for students, scholars and anyone seeking to understand the hidden yet increasingly powerful forces unfolding worldwide.