From Red Terror to Terrorist State

There is one single reason why Communism succeeded in Russia: rather than Lenin's oratory, it was the formation of the Cheka (The All-Russian Extraordinary Commission) under Felix Dzerzhinsky - a ruthless killer and Vladimir Putin's predecessor as head of the Russian secret service and hero. This is the first history of the struggle of the Russian secret service with the party to gain control over the state and what drives it. This book makes clear that behind Putin stands a hundred year organisation with overriding values of its own, ready to replace him should that be necessary - like Russian dolls.