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Originally Posted by All Systems Go
By the end of the year I need to write a 5000 word essay on democracy in Russia.
Now, I would like some assistance from the good people of GD. Out of 19 awful, awful questions I have managed to pick out 4 which I shall now present to you.
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The other anwsers in this thread looked good and were from people who have read more than me about it. I am just chipping in with my personal experiences from living there. sorry it's a bit rushed.
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1) to what extent are the failings of Russia's recent quest for democracy attributable to the stunted development of (a) a Russian 'bourgeoisie' (as distinct from an 'intelligentsia') and (b) a Russian 'civil society'? And vo what extent are a well-developed 'bourgeoisie' and a well-developed 'civil society' prerequisites for democracy?
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I'd rather attribute it to the fact that russians are dishonest thieves bereft of any morals whatsoever.
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2) Did the Yeltsin regime do more to impede than to promote the establishment of liberal democracy in post-Soviet Russia?
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Yes.
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And were there politically viable alternatives to the Yeltsin regime between 1992 and 1996?
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No.
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3) to what extent is the Putin regime doing more to hinder than to promote liberal democracy in Russia?
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The russians are clamouring for a strong leader, so they're getting what they're asking for.
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4) Why has the majority of Russia's population been plunged into poverty since end of the Soviet regime, what (if anything) can be done to allieviate this poverty in the near future, and how has such widespread impoverishment affected the process of democratisation?
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1. Well, the alcohol prohibition of Gorbatchov made sure the mafia(I use this word in the widest sense possible) grew strong. When the all-governing state was dismantled so ridicously fast, they were the only powerstructure ready to take over.
2. Things will not change. Every single educated russian I spoke too had no long term hope.
3. On the bright side, people are actually campaigning though. I witnessed the Moscow elections when I was there, and there were commercials and stuff everywhere. Nobody seemed to give a flying **** though.