Virtual politics: faking democracy in the post-Soviet world

Introduction

'Active measures' : a Russian tradition

Politics as virtuality in the post-Soviet world

The 'political technologist' : Machiavelli as corporate adviser

'Administrative resources'

Politics as theatre : disguising the state holding company

How many towers in the Kremlin? the 'many-layered pie'

Dishing the opposition

Inventing the opposition : Kremlin parties

Inventing the opposition : virtual communists

Conclusions.