[bert]

No, Russia is unable to make the transition to modern society.

They had the advantages China has capitalized on
and just blew it away. The Russian society is defective

[elhombrelibre]

I used to think it wasn’t. But recent events and the inability to turn the corner away from autocracy in one form or another has made me wonder if their isn’t something very wrong in their culture.

[Cronos]

El --> Russia was badly hurt during the Yeltsin years. During the 90s, the US under Blinton could have helped them transition, but Clinton didn't. The EU helped central europe transition, but Russia was not helped.

I don't think they had that chance in the 2000s under the oligarchs. Putin provided them the self-pride they wanted.

Russia did not have the advantages of China. China has a far stronger economy and in the 90s was strongly held, while Russia did not have that advantage

Russian society is not so defective to be non-democratic --> why do you say so?