Is there a big definitive book on what went wrong with Russia trying to become a liberal democracy in the 90s?
Your question assumes they tried.
kamilkazani on substack:
1. Is a dickhead
2. Will cost you money
But
3. Has made very convincing arguments that they never tried and never would.
Very realpolitik.
I guess it's one of those things.
There's people institutionally in power and there's people who are not.
I'm one of the latter, so I have no say in the direction my country goes except if enough people agree in the correct geographical areas.
If the people in power in Russia didn't want Liberal democracy, there's no reason to think it would happen naturally. The reasons why would also be covered.