Russia: Developments and United States' Interests

Intro -- RUSSIA: DEVELOPMENTS ANDUNITED STATES' INTERESTS -- RUSSIA: DEVELOPMENTS ANDUNITED STATES' INTERESTS -- CONTENTS -- PREFACE -- Chapter 1 RUSSIAN POLITICAL, ECONOMIC,AND SECURITY ISSUES ANDUNITED STATES INTERESTS -- SUMMARY -- MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS -- POST-SOVIET RUSSIA AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE UNITEDSTATES -- POLITICAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEVELOPMENTS -- Background -- The Putin Era -- The Medvedev-Putin Era -- Government Moves Against Non-Favored Political Parties and Leaders -- Putin's September 2011 Announcement of Candidacy for the Presidency -- The December 4, 2011, State Duma Election -- Human Rights Problems -- Ethnic Tensions -- Insurgency in the North Caucasus -- Defense Reforms -- TRADE, ECONOMIC, AND ENERGY ISSUES -- Russia and the Global Economic Crisis -- Russia's Accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and PNTR forRussia -- Medvedev's Modernization Initiative -- The Skolkovo Center for Innovation -- U.S. Interest in Skolkovo -- Russian Energy Policy -- FOREIGN POLICY -- Russia and the West -- NATO-Russia Relations -- Russia and the European Union -- Russia and the Soviet Successor States -- U.S.-RUSSIA RELATIONS -- The Obama Administration "Re-sets" Bilateral Relations -- Bilateral Relations and Iran -- Bilateral Relations and Afghanistan -- Alternative Supply Routes to Afghanistan -- Bilateral Relations and North Korea -- Bilateral Relations and Syria -- Russia's Role in the Middle East Quartet -- Arms Control Issues -- Cooperative Threat Reduction -- The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty -- Russia and Missile Defense -- U.S.-Russia Economic Ties -- U.S. Assistance to Russia -- End Notes -- Chapter 2 RUSSIA'S MARCH 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION:OUTCOME AND IMPLICATIONS -- SUMMARY -- INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND -- THE CAMPAIGN -- RESULTS AND ASSESSMENTS -- IMPLICATIONS FOR RUSSIA AND PUTIN -- Protest Rallies