Print Introduction

Apr 25, 2012

Bringing together little-known archival footage and brand-new interviews, "Playing for Power" sheds light on the prominent and backroom players who brought Boris Yeltsin to power in 1991, but lost momentum during the implementation of democracy in Russia.

A series of complex power plays brought down the Soviet Union. Mikhail Gorbachev's long-term vision of change opened the door to a range of players, from democratic Russian reformers to hardline Soviet communists. These players competed for power and influence. The winners destroyed the Soviet Union and constructed a flawed democracy in its place.

During this hour-long TV show, the Carnegie Ethics Studio introduces the characters who wrestled for control, and sets out the lessons the world can take from this turbulent period.

Download the PDF below for an introduction to the key players, a timeline of events, and more.

You may also like

FEB 10, 2026 Article

A Moral Rupture

As moral relativists try to sanitize Trump's transgressive policies, Canada's Prime Minister Carney warns, "We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition."

President Trump at Davos, January 2026. CREDIT: ©2026 World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.

FEB 6, 2026 Article

Trump and the Gaslighting of American Realism

Trump's gaslighting around “realism” and U.S. foreign policy has gone into overdrive. How can the country find an equilibrium between power and principle?

FEB 3, 2026 Article

A Conversation with Carnegie Ethics Fellow Ruth Nashipae Muigai

This conversation features Ruth Nashipae Muigai, founder and CEO of The Gender Initiative, where she leads efforts for gender equality and inclusion in East Africa.

No traducido

Este contenido aún no ha sido traducido a su idioma. Puede solicitar una traducción haciendo clic en el botón de abajo.

Solicitar traducción