If Boris Mironov gives a huge picture of a modernizing Russia, then Yegor Gaidar, a politician who is a reformer and creator of the institution that now uses his name, has also set characteristics for himself: to show the main problems that our country has to solve using the example of the development of natural countries. Therefore, formally, in The Long Time many pages refer to foreign history, although in principle it is all about Russia, about our possibilities to achieve and about what tasks should be taken on, like other peoples, on a long path of development.

Gaidar shows that we are one or three generations behind the leaders. In general, it is possible to lag behind history for a long time, i.e. Russia is moving forward, but at any given moment it looks like today’s America or Germany, but what these countries were 40 or 60 years ago. This must be done in order to take a sober look at the possibilities and problems of our country.

At first glance, one might conclude that Gaidar is a determinist who believes that everything in development is predetermined. However, he reminds of possible mistakes, that is, shows how bad public policy can slow down development and increase the backlog. Now, for obvious reasons, The Long Time is becoming even more relevant than in the light of Russia’s rapid economic growth when it first appeared.

Directly adjacent to The Long Time is another (small) book by Yegor Gaidar, Troubles and Institutions, dedicated to the revision of the era of revolutions, when the state ends. Gaidar himself participated in state administration in just such an environment; his view is of particular interest.