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The corporate ethic, the ethic of samostojatel'nost' and the spirit of capitalism : some reflections on market-building in post-Soviet Russia. Building on the insight of Karl Polanyi, this article argues that the corporate ethic of the Russian industrialists may not necessarily be viewed as an obstacle to national market-building. On the contrary, it may prove useful in the initial phases of the construction of the Russian national market, if it is employed to foster the creation of zaibatsu-type structures united in a national network of exchanges. However, a profound cultural change is a prerequisite for later stages of successful market-building in Russia. Also a potential for and mechanisms of the transition from the corporate ethic of currently predominant economic actors to the new individualist ethic of samostojatel'nost' are discussed. Weberian analysis points at the cultural change which has already occurred among former zealous collectivist ascetics. They have undergogne a quasi-religious conversion that may make them disproportionately influential in the entrepreneurial movement, and especially well suited for essential posts in the government and economic units to carry out the tasks of constructing the national market in Russia.

The structural effects of macroeconomic stabilization policies. In the countries of Eastern Europe, the transformation of economic structures is brought about by three distinct forces : privatization measures, the freeing of prices and trade, and indirectly by policies for combatting hyperinflation and excess demand. At the same time, it is difficult in practice to single out what may be attributable to each of these three forces, even if, as is very likely, the time element involved for adjustment is different in all three cases. In other words, even without a compulsive move towards privatization, there are still structural effects on economic activity, owing to the reduction of overall demand. This goes some way to explaining the extent of the drop in industrial production in Eastern Europe after the change from hidden inflation to overt inflation. There is a process of adjustment, of "creative destruction" which explains the appropriateness of "going back down" to the reactions of enterprises to structural reforms, as well as to policies of stabilization. From this point of view, it may be that the restructuring moves in different countries are partly the automatic but often involuntary result of macroeconomic stabilization policies, and not only the consequence of demonopolization and privatization moves. Indeed, in the contemporary context, anti- inflationary policies engender modes of behaviour very different from those found in a market economy. The essentiel aim of enterprises is stabilization of outlets and supplies, independently of any payment and any profit. Especially in Russia, the heads of enterprises constitute a particularly powerful pressure group, which is well represented at all levels : central, regional or local. In the absence of a strong central State, this pressure group is in a position to impose certain of its views. As of now, the mission of the Central Bank is no longer to reduce the rate of inflation, or stabilize the rate of the rouble, but to enable some enterprises to survive by granting them massive credits, including those enterprises which have the greatest difficulties in selling their products.

The energy sector in Russia since 1991. Power production in Russia (oil, coal, electricity) has fallen significantly since 1990 ; only that of natural gas is being maintained. On the other hand, there was a marked increase in exports in 1992, reflecting the end of the State monopoly, and the freeing of prices. The victims of these contradictory developments are the other republics of the former USSR, who are experiencing a serious drop in their fuel deliveries. There is, in the present study, a more detailed analysis of the Ukrainian situation, since the Ukraine has some retaliatory powers in dealing with Russia, and has been able to delay, though not entirely to prevent, this development. When it comes to the oil industry in Russia, and its distribution, while extraction is intensely concentrated in the region of Tyumen (Western Siberia), refining follows a pattern of distribution more or less corresponding to its end use. It may be concluded that the distribution network is still functional. On the other hand, prices may differ widely from one region to another. In other respects, the oil industry has a significant effect on the overall standard of living of the regions where it has been established : there is a noticeable correlation between the development of wages in these regions and the level of fuel prices. Thus, we are at present witnessing a large-scale redistribution of resources among the republics of the former USSR, and among the regions or social groups of Russia, consequent upon developments in the energy sector.

Privatization in East Germany : the size of foreign capital investment. Standing at 183 billion DM, the total amount of foreign investors' commitment in the former GDR at October 31, 1993, was markedly in excess of the sums drawn by Hungary, Poland or the Czech Republic. The sums, unevenly distributed both by region and by sector, are nevertheless very far short of aspirations and requirements. Juridical constraints, arising from the principle of restitution of property to former owners, and economic constraints (inadequate infrastructures, the problem of pollution, ageing of production equipment, etc.) have in fact acted as a brake on direct foreign investment (DFI) in East Germany. Similarly, the principle of aligning East German wages with high-level West German wages has once again brought into question the comparative advantage of the ex-GDR in terms of labour costs, particularly in comparison with East European neighbours. Lastly, the main determining factor for foreign investors in the GDR lies in accessibility to markets : East Germany, the European Common market, and the East European markets. Since the establishment, at the end of 1991, of a positive international marketing policy by the Treuhandanstalt (the introduction of representatives abroad, and diversification of sales techniques), the appearance of new foreign investors, with American enterprises at the forefront, has given a certain impetus to DFI.

Guns aplenty : weapons diffusion in an unstable region. 'Three concerns lie at the core of this discussion. First, one need to know more about the processes by which an abundance of Cold War weaponry is moving towards post-Cold War conflicts. Such weapons transfers no doubt intensify existing violence. Second, one should ask whether evidence from post-communist Europe tends to confirm or deny hypotheses that posit a causal link between armaments and conflicts. These descriptive and analytical tasks cannot be separated, although one must necessa- rily begin with a survey of "the problem" - termed as the "diffusion of destructive capacity" by the author. Finally, attention is given to policy issues - how to solve or, at least, limit this growing threat.