Book Review: ‘The Successor,’ by Mikhail Fishman

Why It Matters

Understanding the Nemtsov‑versus‑Putin alternative gives policymakers insight into how early democratic choices shape today’s security environment, especially the Ukraine conflict and Western‑Russia relations.

Key Takeaways

• Fishman's 778‑page biography imagines Nemtsov succeeding Yeltsin.
• Nemtsov's reforms modernized Nizhny Novgorod in early 1990s.
• Book argues Putin's rise blocked Russia's democratic consolidation.
• Alternate path might have prevented Ukraine war and displacement.
• Review underscores Nemtsov's liberal legacy versus authoritarianism.

Pulse Analysis

The Successor, a 778‑page biography by veteran Russian journalist Mikhail Fishman, arrives at a moment when Western analysts are still grappling with the consequences of Vladimir Putin’s two‑decade rule. Translated into English by Michele A. Berdy, the volume offers a meticulously researched counterfactual: what if Boris Nemtsov, the charismatic reformer who rose from a physicist’s lab to govern Nizhny Novgorod, had succeeded Boris Yeltsin in 1999? Fishman frames the question not as speculative fiction but as a diagnostic tool for tracing the missed opportunities that could have kept Russia on a liberal trajectory.

Nemtsov’s tenure as governor was marked by rapid privatization of collective farms, a surge in independent media, and an ambitious housing and infrastructure program that transformed the Volga region into a showcase of market‑driven growth. By contrast, Putin’s consolidation of power redirected the state toward centralized control, re‑nationalized key industries, and ultimately pursued a foreign policy that culminated in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Fishman argues that a Nemtsov presidency would have reinforced rule of law, curtailed corruption, and likely prevented the geopolitical flashpoint that now threatens European security.

For policymakers and investors, the book’s alternate history underscores the strategic cost of abandoning reformist elites in favor of authoritarian stability. It suggests that early support for figures like Nemtsov could have yielded a more predictable, democratic Russia, reducing the need for costly sanctions and military aid to Ukraine. As the United States recalibrates its Eurasian strategy, The Successor serves as a reminder that the personal fortunes of individual leaders can reshape entire regions, making the cultivation of liberal institutions a long‑term security imperative.