I think Russia has modernized some, the internet, phones, TV, travel, their young are a little like the Western young and I don’t think the government will totally crush them like the old 1940s Russians did and would, because they just can’t be so excessive today without all kinds of push back from the people
I get the impression that the brutality and cruelty of the Russian establishment are relative to the times and what they can pull off in today’s climate, they probably do some of what they used to, but can only get away with doing it on a tiny scale, they can send messages and tighten the screws but they can’t take away a million people at once.
Agree!
I really don’t think the Russian population would react well to a return of a Soviet lifestyle. I think they’ve got used to having things on the shelves in stores, relative ease in travel, use of cell phones, etc. In short, an almost European style of life. This would be particularly unpopular with young, educated Russians. You’re seeing that now with the dramatic rise in them emigrating.