"An additional, purely Slavic feature of the Russians’ concept of property is the shared belief that each has a claim upon some part of the whole."
This certainly is a very Orthodox concept, and the Orthodox culture is threaded finely all throughout Russia, since she began as an Orthodox nation.
In the absence of property, it was access - the opportunity to seek opportunity - and favor in which the Russians began to traffic. The connections one achieved, in turn, became the most essential tools a human being could grasp, employ and, over time, in which he might trade. Where relationships, not laws, are used to define society’s boundaries, tribute must be paid. Bribery, extortion and subterfuge have been the inevitable result. What marks the Russian condition in particular is the scale of these activities, which is colossal. Russia, then, is a negotiated culture, the opposite of the openly competitive culture productive markets require.
This strikes home so deeply and with such sincerity that I know you will agree with me about it. In fact, she put the perfect words to it. "A negotiated culture" I could not have said it better myself. And again, "where relationships, not laws are used" is absolutely exact and correct. Quite well said.
Have you read this book, "From Nyet to Da"?
What's weird, is that the adjective of blat is blatnoy, which refers to the criminal underground and the songs celebrating it.
I haven't read "From Nyet to Da", but I'll have a look at it. I think Churchill(?) put it best when he said: "The two stupidest statements I ever heard were 'alcohol doesn't make me drunk' and 'I understand the Russians'."