This is what all Russia scholars need to know about Russian law ... This is an outstanding piece of work. It is concise at 169 pages of text, with good international and Russian references and delightful quotes. It offers an even treatment of three centuries and an uncommonly nuanced analysis with a good eye for what is formal and what is real. * Slavic Review *
William Pomeranz, Deputy Director of the Kennan Institute, has written a masterful history of Russia through a legal lens ... Readers whose primary interests lie well outside the field of Russian law will find important insights here into Russia's political, social, and economic development ... Revealing with unusual clarity the conservative vs. modernizing strands of Russia's legal development, Law and the Russian State provides a superb introduction to the field of Russian law. * The Russian Review *
Pomeranz's book is a treat for anyone interested in learning about the fundamental changes and continuities of Russian law ... , Pomeranz's book is highly recommendable. It does what good legal history sometimes succeeds in doing: it helps us to understand the contemporary world. * Comparative Legal History *
It is no small feat to encapsulate major points of 350 years of legal history into 169 pages of text, and this is done fluently, with good balance among the salient subjects. . . This is a volume well worthy of adoption for advanced undergraduate courses on Russian affairs and an excellent addition to a promising series. * Slavonic and East European Review *
Pomeranz is at his best when covering the period since formation of the Russian Federation. Nonetheless, by harking back to Peter the Great's reign, he provides just enough historical context to demonstrate continuity and change within a country that has both followed and curiously departed from the West's legal trajectory. All of which makes Law and the Russian State a valuable addition to the literature. It is recommended for undergraduate and graduate students of history and law, and for experts in these fields. * Ab Imperio *
A lively and engaging account of law and legal development in Russia, past and present. It is unique in its emphasis on how law throughout Russian history has served the state. * Peter H. Solomon, Jr., Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto, Canada *
Most Westerners consider the Russian state lawless, but William Pomeranz shows the great importance Russians attribute to law. This is a scholarly and thoughtful guide to law, a little understood but crucial aspect of Russia's long history. It should become the standard work on its subject. * Geoffrey Hosking, Emeritus Professor of Russian History, University College London, UK *
