Reforming the Russian Legal System is a comprehensive analysis of the forces that are shaping legal reform in the republics of the former USSR. Looking beneath the flow of day-to-day developments, the book examines how traditional indigenous Russian legal values, and the 74-year experience with communism and 'socialist legality' are being combined with Western concepts of justice and due process to forge a new legal consciousness in Russia today. The author provides a broad historical survey of pre-revolutionary and Soviet-era legal developments, which provides a backdrop to the reforms initiated by Gorbachev. Chapters analysing constitutional law, criminal law and procedure, the Procuracy, and the laws governing the transition to a market economy illustrate the recurring themes of the book: the interaction of crosscurrents in Russian legal culture, and variations in the pace of legal reform from republic to republic and region to region.

Reforming the Russian Legal System is a comprehensive analysis of the forces that are shaping legal reform in the former USSR.
Reviews
"This work should be essential reading for anyone trying to deal with Russia's legal system." Peter B. Maggs, Law & History Review
"Readers seeking an overview of the Russian leagal system will find much of interest in this book. Gordon B. Smith weaves together various literatures to create a succinct and compelling description of law and leagal culture prior to the October Revolution and during the Soviet period." Kathryn Hendley, Historian



Book Information
ISBN 9780521456692
Author Gordon B. Smith
Format Paperback
Page Count 328
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 480g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 19mm