Professor Wegren's book is not only a comprehensive analysis of the roots of contemporary Russian food policy, it is extraordinarily timely, coming on the eve of Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization. He documents the decline of economic liberalism and return of protectionism in Russia, and thereby gives the West fair warning about Russian agriculture's intentions with regard to integration into the world's food economy.

Allan Mustard, minister-counselor for Agricultural Affairs, American Embassy, Moscow, Russia

Agrarian economic and political policies represent the neglected stepchild of transition studies. Russia's Food Policies and Globalization is a tour de force of the late Soviet and post-Soviet eras. Only a scholar of Stephen Wegren's broad background in the field could even attempt such a survey. It will be well-received by specialists on Soviet and Russian affairs. Wegren reminds me of the late great Lazar Volin in the scope and quality of his work on rural communities.

James R. Millar, The George Washington University