Hey, it's Marcel Dirsus and this is The Next Best.

I spoke to Charles Hecker this week. Charles has spent 40 years traveling and working in the Soviet Union and Russia. He speaks fluent Russian and he just wrote a book called Zero Sum.

At first glance, the book is about international business in Russia. And it is, but it is also a lens to look at political and economic developments more generally. We spoke about the chaos of the early 1990s. Western governments pushing their companies to invest in Russia and the impact that closer engagement with Moscow had on our own societies. I enjoyed the book. I enjoyed talking to Charles and I hope you enjoy our discussion.

Let's go.

My guest

Website: https://www.charleshecker.com

Book: https://www.charleshecker.com/purchase-links

Twitter: https://x.com/Charles_Hecker

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/charleshecker.bsky.social

Me

Newsletter: https://thehundred.substack.com

Book: https://www.marceldirsus.com/tyrants

Twitter: https://x.com/marceldirsus

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/marceldirsus.com

I'll see you soon.