Politics: Who Gets What, When, How

Translated from the English by Maxim Dondukovsky. — Moscow: Gaidar Institute Press, 2026. — 248 p.

ISBN 978-5-93255-704-4

This classic work by political scientist Harold Lasswell (1902–1978), first published in 1936, presents one of the most influential and comprehensive definitions of politics as a sphere of social life. Lasswell was one of the first to offer a ruthlessly pragmatic view of power, shifting the focus from normative ideals to the relentless struggle for the distribution of key values: security, income, and honor. In his work, he reveals the full arsenal of tools that elites use to maintain control. Lasswell analyzes in detail how propaganda, manipulation of symbols, economic pressure, and violence work, turning the political process into a controllable technology. His famous formula — “who gets what, when, and how” — becomes a universal method for uncovering the real interests behind any political action.

Written in clear and accessible language, the book provides the reader with a universal lens for analyzing power in all its manifestations, from state institutions to corporate hierarchies. Lasswell's work remains an indispensable tool for anyone who wants to see the hidden springs of modern society.