Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law Stanford University


CDDRL News



March 12, 2007

CDDRL's Director Michael McFaul explains "who's to blame for Russia"

in the news: The Washington Post on March 12, 2007

There are many theories trying to explain the backslide of the world's largest country into authoritarianism. Michael McFaul, CDDRL director, cautions that "the structural explanations -- culture, history of communism, oil and gas -- can be easily overplayed, while the actual decisions and mistakes of individual leaders can be forgotten or excused."