Posted on 11/18/2017 10:28:57 AM PST by GoldenState_Rose
The central argument of the book is that Russia has returned to the dangerous stagnation of the 1980s, largely thanks to the resurgence of the old KGB. The authoritarian squeeze will worsen at home, Mr Kovalev predicts, while foreign policy will become increasingly hostile and unpredictable. In the long run he fears a break-up of Russia, before—possibly—the dawn of democracy, the rule of law and modernisation.
His language is strikingly blunt. Mr Putin is a “mumbling, stammering knock-kneed brow-furrowing ex-KGB agent who speaks the language of the gutter and values power above everything”. Echoing Alexander Herzen, a 19th-century émigré who declared Russia to be suffering from “patriotic syphilis”, Mr Kovalev diagnoses in his country “manic-depressive psychosis…acute megalomania, persecution complex and kleptomania”. Foreigners who write like this are accused of Russophobia. But it is hard to bring that charge against the erudite Mr Kovalev, with his long and distinguished public service.
He paints a convincing first-hand picture of the confusion of the Gorbachev years, the dysfunction of the Boris Yeltsin era and the ebb and flow of KGB influence in the highest reaches of power. Mr Kovalev’s finest hour was ending the practice of coercive psychiatry. As a senior diplomat dealing with human rights, he brought the power of the reformist foreign ministry to bear on the secretive health ministry, which flatly denied that any abuse was taking place. He also pioneered reforms to improve religious freedom.
(Excerpt) Read more at economist.com ...
That could be easily stated of every advancing country....China has certainly shown the same behavior among their elites as do other Asian countries as they rise. Look at Ukraine as well...out of the frying pan yet their oligarchs continue to rein in millions into their own coffers.
And lets not forget our own politicians with ‘inside infor mation’ whereby they make personal investments and cream off the top every day!
Yes but Putin gets so much credit for standing up to the very (Western) banking system housing all his cash and that of his cronies.
I notice you didn’t contradict my facts, because they’re facts: unlike the 1980s, Russia is no longer communist, no longer atheist, and no longer an empire - yet neocons want us to hate and fear Russia more than ever, because it’s a roadblock to their globalist agenda and their hopes to take down the Syrian government. Russia saved the lives of Syrian Christians by blocking that neocon scheme. McCain is furious about that. You too?
Well he’s had almost 20 yrs to set things up for himself. Do you really think his assets ‘that matter to him’ are in Eu or other ‘western banking systems...? ....’s his play money.
There’s enough there to suggest he does but certainly that is not where his real wealth is.
No. My views are shaped by the time I spent in the country (just after the Crimea annexation.) I love Russia! Adore it.
But not Putin. And not with his oligarchy corrupting and cheapening every sacred, beautiful thing about the place.
I voted for John McCain in ‘08 because a) it was my first election to vote in and b) because I liked Sarah Palin.
Palin predicted Putin’s incursion into Ukraine back in ‘08 when Russia was moving into Georgia. She knew Obama would be weak. As he was.
Putin does not care about Christians in Syria, but whatever happens now, will work out well only because of Trump cleaning house. Not Putin.
Mind boggling the lengths to which oligarchs from the Middle East, China, former Soviet Union indulge themselves. They own London’s most prime real estate. China wants to take over Hollywood. While average citizens in threir country lack hope of social mobility...China is better than Russia though in this regard. Has more of a middle class.
Can’t stand the Putins and Xi Jinpings who use their power to perpetuate it. Clinton Foundation also.
Who forced you to live in Russia, Obama?
Some postgraduate work...but Obama had something to do with my wanting a longer break from the states yes...
It was also while I was there though that I concluded: even under liberal leadership, the US still has a fighting chance. I appreciated our founders and our principles in a whole new light.
Then Trump happened. :) :) i lit candles for his victory in Orthodox churches.
In contrast, at the end of the Cold War, Russia had a thin pool of skilled, technologically capable workers, democratic habits and institutions were lacking, and there was no popular understanding or consensus as to what reforms were needed or how to accomplish them. Worse, endemic corruption and the alliance between the KGB and organized crime diverted scarce resources and made business conditions unappealing to Western investors. A Marshall Plan for post Cold War Russia would have been looted and failed to accomplish anything useful.
“If he wants real crisis, the author should write about California, Illinois, or NY. That’s where modern communism has found a home.”
Not to mention almost electing Hillary. There are some REALLY BAD PEOPLE at high levels of government in the good ole United States.
We have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT regarding freedom and democracy considering how many votes Hillary got, that half of our millennials WANT to live under Communism, and that we allow China and Mexico to produce at least 90% of our goods.
“Another reason our media and fake-conservative neocons hate Russia: Russia has said no to the gay agenda.”
Good point...considering the number of ‘Christian Conservatives’ who get caught with gay lovers, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the Putin haters are worried that Putin is SETTING AN EXAMPLE regarding how to handle gays policy wise (which is to ignore them...until they start recruiting kids).
That could explain a lot.
“The protection of Christians by Assad was the unanimous point of view of my numerous Syrian students in my high school classes, now sadly a bygone day.”
That hasn’t changed...only difference is that Assad doesn’t control the entire country anymore. But living under his domain is among the SAFEST places to be if you’re a Christian in that part of the world.
Hard to fault Putin for being INSTRUMENTAL in preventing the outright slaughter of millions of Syrian Christians. A better question to ask is why we wanted that outcome (the slaughter) so badly. I’m still waiting to hear from the anti-Putin types why we took sides with mass murderers in Syria. And no, I don’t expect an answer.
‘’’’“patriotic syphilis”
WTH does that even mean?’’’’
That is a term Russian leftists used in 19th century to describe ‘backward’ people unwilling to betray their country and give up on Christian values for ‘progressive’ new ways and proto Globalism of that era.
I’d say it is pretty much the same condition modern liberals might allege in red state Americans.
The way author uses leftist newspeak to condemn alleged re-Sovietization of Russia says a lot and destroys his credibility.
Reagan knew Russia was our enemy. Trump thinks Putin is his banker.
Edward Lucas has some thoughts about how the self flagellation of the west is presenting a wrong story.
https://www.politico.eu/article/has-russia-been-treated-arrogantly/
Thanks.
Thanks.
Thank you for the article! “”Self-flagellation” exactly!
See Krosan’s link about how genuine self-criticism of the sorry state of Western affairs does not warrant hyper-idealization of modern Russia. (And most who do idolize Putin have not lived there for any extensive time as I have!) It’s no different than when disenchanted Americans in the early 20th Century, Depression era, and postwar period (mostly artists and intellectuals) idealized the Soviet Union while excoriating the materialism + greed of capitalism back home, and the American Dream.
Most who actually went onto to spend *significant time* in Russia (not just visit) would end up writing books like “My Disillusionment with Russia” and “My Further Disillusionment with Russia” — feminist radical Emma Goldman.
Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger who admired the Soviet Union’s legalization of abortion (Russia was the first country in modern era to do so and its abortion culture continues to plague the society to this day despite efforts to curb it.) — also had similar feedback.
The Soviet Union was not the paradise the leftists had envisioned.
Same goes for the deceptive idea that Russia is some paradise for Christians today.
See Krosan’s link about how genuine self-criticism of the sorry state of Western affairs does not warrant hyper-idealization of modern Russia. (And most who do idolize Putin have not lived there for any extensive time as I have!) It’s no different than when disenchanted Americans in the early 20th Century, Depression era, and postwar period (mostly artists and intellectuals) idealized the Soviet Union while excoriating the materialism + greed of capitalism back home, and the American Dream.
Most who actually went onto to spend *significant time* in Russia (not just visit) would end up writing books like “My Disillusionment with Russia” and “My Further Disillusionment with Russia” — feminist radical Emma Goldman.
Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger who admired the Soviet Union’s legalization of abortion (Russia was the first country in modern era to do so and its abortion culture continues to plague the society to this day despite efforts to curb it.) — also had similar feedback.
The Soviet Union was not the paradise the leftists had envisioned.
Same goes for the deceptive idea that Russia is some paradise for Christian/conservatives today.
Please look up its HIV rate**. It was in a Russian church (I regularly attended Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical....this one was Evangelical) - where for the first time in my life, I was part of a congregation praying for soemone dying of HIV. He was the father of several kids. :(
Please do research.
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