Putin positions himself as Russia's Lee Kuan YewOne hears much about the "death of democracy" in Russia these days, especially as current President Vladimir Putin muses openly about slipping into the office of prime minister to sidestep constitutional term limits. As a former Sovietologist with a degree in Russian literature, I find this story line all too familiar. But rest assured, I likewise see America's Cold War victory remaining secure.
Russia enjoyed no real democracy in the 1990s, instead suffering an economic chaos that left society prey to all manner of gangsters. Not surprisingly, average Russians craved a return to order, which finally arrived in the political ascendancy of Putin's "siloviki," or "power guys," who spent their formative years working for the KGB.
During its final years, the dysfunctional Soviet system muddled along thanks primarily to those who operated "on the left" (na levo), or in the black markets, and those who operated "on the right" (na pravo), or in the security services. The former kept the decrepit economy from collapsing; the latter kept the decrepit regime from collapsing.
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Comments (2)
I have no argument with your assessment. But in the slew of articles re: Putin this week, everyone cites these polls where the Russian people give Putin an 80% approval rating (or higher). According to Russian friends living in Russia, Putin is a feared man, and when a poll is taken, no one feels safe to diss him. Therefor one wonders how to correctly interpret the results in these polls, or any poll where the subject in question is a ruler who holds such tight sway in matters of "security."
Posted by Michal Shapiro | October 7, 2007 7:10 AM
I liked your analogy: "As far as the global security environment goes, Putin's "bear" remains in hibernation: some growl but no bite."
With Russia and China both embracing authoritarian capitalism, America and Europe better starting working closer in concert with India to make sure that the "bear" (and the "dragon") don't start playing rough.
Posted by Tim Roth![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com/weblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 7, 2007 5:34 PM