"In 1991 a small group of Russians emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union to claim ownership of some of the most valuable petroleum, natural gas, and metal deposits in the world. This resulted in one of the greatest transfers of wealth ever seen. By 1997, five of those individuals were on Forbes Magazine's list of the world's richest billionaires. These self-styled oligarchs were accused of using guile, intimidation, and occasionally violence to reap these rewards." "Marshall I. Goldman argues against the line that the course adopted by President Yeltsin was the only one open to Russia, since an examination of the reform process in Poland shows that a more gradual and imaginative approach worked there with less corruption and a wider share of benefits." "The Piratization of Russia is a book that is required reading for those with an interest in the debacle of Russian reform, from the interested lay-reader to students, academics, economists, and politicans who want to understand the problems facing Russia and how they could have been avoided."--BOOK JACKET.
Includes bibliographical references and index.