Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2025 -

In the aftermath of the 2016 failed coup attempt in Turkey, more than 150,000 individuals, among them the author and many other academics, lost their jobs when the government used emergency decrees to purge state and private institutions of people it found undesirable. Based on interviews with some of the victims of these purges, this theoretically sophisticated and timely book argues that the victims and their families were condemned to "civic death" without due process. Accused of not being sufficiently loyal, they not only lost their positions but also their rights as citizens and were denied access to state services. What distinguishes civic death from civil death--the legal process by which convicted individuals lose their rights in countries that respect the rule of law--is the former's reliance on extrajudicial methods and disregard for the rule of law. Whether going into physical exile or staying behind, those condemned to civic death become stateless persons. Although the book focuses on Turkey, it is more than a case study: it develops a theoretically sophisticated argument that resonates with anyone interested in the consequences of democratic backsliding.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty; professionals.

The nature of Russia's post-Soviet regime has long sparked debate. Drawing on survey data from 1993 to 2021, Chaisty and Whitefield (both, Univ. of Oxford, England) argue that Russia developed a hybrid political economy, fusing political and economic power. This fusion produced a system of electoral authoritarianism and patrimonialism, even as much of the public continued to support democratic norms and market principles. The authors contend that by the early 2000s, this hybrid system had been consolidated, becoming the "only game in town." Their data and analysis convincingly support this conclusion. However, the book also shows how this consensus began to erode with Putin's return to the presidency in 2012. His more nationalistic and expansionary rhetoric intensified internal tensions, pushing citizens toward polarized positions: either deeper authoritarianism or more robust democratic reforms. The result is a system under strain, marked by increasing conflict over its future direction. The book is essential for understanding the evolution of post-Soviet Russia and offers valuable insights into the political trajectory that culminated in the invasion of Ukraine. It also makes a significant contribution to broader discussions of hybrid regimes, both in Russia and globally.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty.