Posted on 11/27/2007 1:41:53 PM PST by knighthawk
MOSCOW (Reuters) - They know of communism only from their parents' stories, their memories of the chaotic post-Soviet 1990s are hazy and they aspire to take their holidays in Thailand rather than the Crimea.
This is the Putin generation: 18-to-21-year-old Russians who came of age under Vladimir Putin's presidency and will vote in their first parliamentary election on December 2.
And they will throw their support behind him.
"Old people want stability, young people want change, want to move forward," 20-year-old Pavel Romanov said as he strolled past Western cars parked along a narrow Moscow street.
Romanov will cast his ballot for Putin's United Russia party on Sunday because he said he did not want to risk a vote for Russia's divided opposition.
"I want a strong Russia and respect from other countries," he said clutching a novel by the 20th century American writer Ernest Hemingway.
Putin is credited with restoring order to Russia after the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, when a group of tycoons known as oligarchs bought up state industries at knock-down prices, inflation soared and the country was rocked by gangland killings.
Under Putin, Russia has stabilised, shops from Moscow to Vladivostok are full of the latest Western products and national pride has swollen.
Most first-time voters believed almost uncritically in Putin's strong, self-confident Russia, said Denis Volkov, an analyst at the independent Levada polling unit.
"The high spirits, the propaganda about a great Russia and a growing economy will make many young people come out and vote," he said. "And they will vote for United Russia."
A Levada poll earlier this month showed 66 percent of people aged between 18 and 24 believed Putin was taking Russia in the right direction, most said they would vote in Sunday's election and 79 percent would vote for United Russia.
The 18-to-24 age group was more positive towards Putin and his policies than any other group.
Volkov said Putin's grip on the media coupled with economic growth and young voters not wanting to damage career prospects by dissenting had dampened the younger generation's ability to critically analyse Russia's political landscape.
"And there is little good teaching of democracy, how it works and the checks and balances," he said.
ALTERNATIVE VIEW
Slick and well-financed pro-Kremlin youth groups have courted young Russians, especially in the regions, by offering fun, travel and potential romance for those willing to follow Putin's politics unwaveringly.
Putin, 55, is required by the constitution to hand over to a new leader after a presidential election in March.
Political analysts believe the hugely popular Putin could use the parliamentary vote, and the endorsement he will receive from it, as a means to retain power in some capacity.
Putin's liberal-minded opponents -- who are unlikely to win any seats -- say he has trampled on human rights during his eight years in power, cracked down on independent media and created a political system which he is able to dominate.
Their supporters are exasperated.
"I've a slightly different view to most young Russians," Yulia Pyatkhina, an 18-year-old architecture student said. She wore a silver ring through her nose -- a rebel trend in Russian youth fashion.
"I won't vote because there is no point. There is no way that Putin will lose."
A few hundred metres away, in a bar tucked behind some of the most expensive designer clothes shops in Russia, a 19-year-old with an eye on a successful career in business sipped tea as he explained why Putin was the best choice.
"The Kremlin has created an ideology for young people which is good," said Akhmad Dzhalolov, a business student.
"I'll vote for United Russia to make sure that Putin's course that stabilised the country over the past seven years, is continued."
After finishing his tea, he stubbed out his slim cigarette, smoothed down his pin-striped jacket, picked up the keys to his sleek Chrysler limousine and turned to leave the bar.
(Editing by Andrew Dobbie)
Reuters (IDS)
Ping
Those who do not learn history are doomed.
They’ll be among the first on their way (back) to the Gulag.
A lot of Russians like and need a strongman to lead them, and they don’t mind trading their freedom for a jackboot on their necks. Many of them view Western freedom as ‘chaos’ and they don’t understand how we maintain civil order here. On top of that many of them simply detest the US.
Putin has transformed Russia from a crumbling, humiliated third world state that couldnt feed its own citizens, into a wealthy regional power. Russians view Putin as a savior, a modern day Abraham Lincoln.
Yes, he is a strongman from the KGB. Yes he has socialized the oil industry and marginalized the opposition while curtailing various liberties. Still, by Russian standards he is a mild leader.
He gave the government control of Russias resources but left everything else privatized, communism is not coming back. While he did imprison a couple of dissidents and assassinating a few KGB turncoats, he is no Stalin. Russia is still a democracy and basic freedoms are preserved.
Most importantly he is the ONLY leader in modern history to crush a popular Islamist insurgency. Where France, Israel, India, and the US have struggled, Russia has succeded. The US could learn some lessons from Chechniya.
Best graphic I’ve seen in weeks. Played D&D a few times, so that’s probably why it’s so spot on to me.
Yeah, I used to play it too. I found the pic on 4chan (can’t remember which board).
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