Russian Pendulum: Paradoxes, Practices and Patterns

In Russian Pendulum, Alena Ledeneva takes readers on a compelling journey to Russia, where tradition, modernity, power, and people collide. Through the lens of ambivalence, the author unveils patterns that have shaped Russia’s politics and society for centuries, pointing to an intricate system of informal networks that are held together by practices of co-optation, control, and camouflage.

For readers seeking to look beyond stereotypes, this book provides a brief yet nuanced exploration of Russia’s complexity and unpredictability. The ever-moving Russian pendulum dwells on paradoxes and the hidden practices that resolve them. Patterns such as doublethink, double standards, zigzags, cascades, waves. and tides are captured in the author’s own artworks that introduce each chapter.

With nine musical compositions for two marimbas, the album The System Made Me Do It by Benjamin Woodgates add a further dimension, exploring these patterns in sound. Drawing on the Global Informality Project (www.in-formality.com), the artwork, and the music, Russian Pendulum offers insights essential to understand hidden yet increasingly powerful forces.

This event is organised with support of the UCL FRINGE centre.