Putinism
Simon Tisdall's op-ed piece at The Guardian (UK), A singular vision, identifies the developing political system in Russia as Putinism.It's a good, if pessimistic, description of changes in Russia since '04. It might be a good update to the textbook your students read.
A singular vision
"Vladimir Putin's version of democracy is so much less trouble than the real thing. No wonder it's fast becoming Russia's biggest political export.
"So well managed is Putin's "managed democracy" (aka 'sovereign democracy') that political opponents wonder aloud whether there is any point in having elections at all.
"That may be the next step. But for now, the Duma polls are a test bed, of sorts, for March's presidential elections...
"Putinism, as the managed democracy phenomenon is coming to be known, depends on firm central control of all the main levers of power and influence - and is thus not dissimilar to some Soviet era 'isms' of varying respectability. According to Mikhail Kasyanov, a former prime minister, the system has been gradually refined since 2004, when Putin won re-election.
"'Increased regulation of political parties, civil society and NGOs, the cancellation of elections for regional governors, changes to the Duma election procedures, and raising the threshold for parties to win parliamentary seats are all measures that have advanced this cynical approach,' Kasyanov said...
"Just as Russia once exported Marxist revolution, it may now be creating an international market for Putinism. While the western democracies have grown vociferous in their criticism of Russia's subversive state, 'managed democracy' is gaining a growing number of fans elsewhere...
"More often than not, instinctively undemocratic, oligarchic and corrupt national elites find that an appearance of democracy, with parliamentary trappings and a pretence of pluralism and transparency, is much more attractive, and manageable, than the real thing.
"Putinism, as it is now evolving, fundamentally challenges American assumptions that the 21st century will see the inevitable triumph of 'western values'. In Putin's controlled, shuttered world, liberal democracy is a plot, not an opportunity. He will certainly 'win' next month's election battle. And his brainchild could yet win the wider war."
See also:
- Political lobotomy from Pravda
"In short, the export of democracy is as hopeless as the export of the World Revolution. What is more, this lobotomy is so dangerous an operation that it creates only freaks with primary democratic characters...." - Putin decries western meddling from The Guardian (UK)
- Putin slams foreign govts for sponsoring opposition from Reuters
- Putin promises 'total renewal' of Russian leadership from Forbes
Labels: leadership, political culture, politics, Russia
posted by Ken Wedding @ 7:36 AM
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