Russian Pendulum shortlisted for the Pushkin House Book Prize 2026

Posted on 3rd June, 2026

Russian Pendulum: Paradoxes, Practices and Patterns named among six titles on this year’s shortlist for the prestigious £10,000 award.

Pushkin House has announced the shortlist for the 2026 Book Prize, with Prof. Alena Ledeneva’s Russian Pendulum: Paradoxes, Practices and Patterns selected as one of six outstanding titles.

In Russian Pendulum, Ledeneva offers a compelling exploration of Russia’s political and social dynamics, examining the enduring interplay between tradition and modernity, power and society. Framed through the concept of ambivalence, the book identifies long-standing patterns that shape governance and everyday life, highlighting the role of informal networks sustained by practices of co-optation, control and camouflage.

The winner of the £10,000 prize will be announced by the judging panel at the award ceremony in September 2026.

Congratulations to Prof. Ledeneva on this well-deserved recognition