Russia's attempt to replace the failed Soviet system and its command economy with a capitalist, democratic society has produced a health and social welfare crisis, at considerable human cost. Russia s Torn Safety Nets presents a series of essays by distinguished Russian and American scholars which describe and analyze the consequences of the collapsed socialist system, focusing on issues of health and demography, HIV/AIDS, drug addiction and abuse, the disabled, aging and pensions, education, women and sexism, and social issues in the military. The essays conclude with a section on the private and public efforts to ease the impact of the ongoing transition on the Russia people.

Mark G. Field is an Associate at the Davis Center for Russian Studies and Adjunct Professor at Harvard University's School of Public Health.

Judyth L. Twigg is Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University.