Free For All: The Post-Soviet Transition of Russia

Author: Gary K. Busch

ISBN 978-1-60264-573-8 (softcover)
ISBN 978-1-60264-574-5 (eBook)

272 pages

"Free For All" tells the story of the transition of the Russian political and economic structures after Communism, through Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Putin. It examines the role of the KGB, the GRU and the other security organizations in effecting and controlling these transitions and explains the important roles played by Russian organized crime in this business as well as foreign corporations engaged in 'tolling'. It describes the rise of the oligarchs, the siloviki' and the labour movements. The primary focus is the Russian metals industry and the personal experiences gained during the building of the logistical and political infrastructure for the Russian aluminium industry across Russia. It represents the personal experiences and insights gained in years of engagement in Siberia and the Russian Far East.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Gary K. Busch has had a varied career-as an international trades unionist, an academic, a businessman and a political affairs and business consultant for 45 years. Gary Busch has been a Chairman and CEO of International Bulk Trade, Transport Logistics, Transport Africa and the North Pacific Lines. These companies have owned, chartered and operated many marine dry cargo vessels and cargo aircraft worldwide.
He set up the transport and logistics systems for the Russian aluminium industry and operated transport and port facilities across Russia as well as cargo airlines in Africa.
He was a professor and Head of Department at the University of Hawaii and has been a visiting professor at several universities. He was the head of research in international affairs for a major U.S. trade union and Assistant General Secretary of an international union federation.
He has been a consultant on international political developments for several major international corporations, think-tanks and private intelligence companies.
He speaks twelve languages and has written six books. His articles have appeared in the Economist Intelligence Unit, Wall Street Journal, WPROST Pravda and several other news journals. He is the editor and publisher of the web-based news journal of international relations www.ocnus.net.