Posted on 01/20/2015 12:01:10 AM PST by elhombrelibre
President Vladimir Putin cannot afford at this point to reform the political system he has built up, as doing so would undermine his grip on power, a panel of political analysts said at the Gaidar Forum on Friday.
They went on to warn that without fundamental change, Russia risks an eventual descent into "revolutionary chaos." The panel, which consisted of several analysts known for their vocal criticism of Russian government policy, spoke before a packed audience.
Such heated political rhetoric may seem out of place at a high-level economic policy conference co-organized by the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) and the Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy. But the final day of this year's forum was marked by departures from mainstream economics, with forays into everything from politics to education.
The political panel was moderated by Leonid Gozman, who has stood at the helm of some of Russia's most prominent liberal parties over the course of the past decade.
At one point Gozman asked the panel, which included seven Russian analysts and one American, to say something nice about the ruling elite. "We have to say something good about the government, or we won't be allowed to hold this session again next year," he said facetiously.
Rapid Deterioration
Jokes aside, the speakers had a tough time finding any silver linings in what they saw as the many challenges Russia is presently facing due to the decisions Putin has made during his 15 years as Russia's central political figure.
Most of the analysts agreed that Russia's political system will likely remain inert over the course of 2015, with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev expected to remain in his post. At the same time, the majority agreed that the system is fragile, and susceptible to rapid deterioration.
"We have entered a stage of fantastic instability," said Georgy Satarov, former aide to Russia's first President, Boris Yeltsin, and now an expert on political corruption in Russia.
According to Satarov, the current economic crisis may leave the government with only two options: launch dramatic political reforms or tighten the screws.
"The fact that everyday life in Russia is still stable prevents common people from understanding how fragile the political situation is," he said.
The second option — cracking down — could provoke widespread dissent, which could in turn propel Russia into "revolutionary chaos," Saratov said. "This is an absolutely realistic scenario," he urged.
Experts were divided on the question of where such revolutionary chaos could originate. Political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin, head of the Moscow-based Mercator political research group, suggested that momentum would likely start in Moscow, as the capital continues to grow increasingly gentrified and politically conscious in contrast to other Russian regions.
Nikolai Petrov, a political analyst with the Higher School of Economics, argued that such fervor could emerge in Chechnya, as its leader Ramzan Kadyrov grows increasingly independent and power-hungry.
"Kadyrov has 20,000 people that swore allegiance to him and Putin. In case there is a difficulty in Moscow, they would defend them," Petrov said. "Russia is hostage to the regime; the regime is hostage to Putin; while Putin is hostage to his decisions, which have left him without an exit strategy."
Perestroika Impossible
Tatiana Vorozheikina, a political scientist specializing in Latin American affairs, argued that fundamental political change remains an unlikely scenario for the foreseeable future in Russia, as such change would threaten the standing of the present-day political elite.
At the same time, she opined, the current structure is rooted in Putin. "I don't believe the regime can be preserved without Putin," said Vorozheikina. "The process of a negative selection among the elites did not leave anybody prominent and authoritative in the establishment, who would be able to assume power during the transition period."
Regardless of the likelihood of impending change, Vorozheikina argued that Russia's political power players are not primarily to blame for bringing about the country's current economic crisis.
Putin's Rating
Despite the panelists' conclusions on the Kremlin's hurdle-laden road ahead, it does not appear that Russia's economic downturn will necessarily force Putin's hand with regard to reforms. Recent statistics reveal that his approval ratings are no longer tied to the country's overall prosperity.
Poll results published last week by the independent Levada Center revealed that 55 percent of Russians would like to see Putin remain Russia's president after the next election in 2018. Tellingly, 54 percent of respondents said they see no alternative to Putin. The poll was conducted among 1,600 respondents with the margin of error not exceeding 3.4 percent.
According to Alexei Levinson, senior researcher at the Levada Center, approval of Putin and approval of the Russian leadership overall are two very different issues.
"Over the past 15 months, Putin has come to be seen as a symbolic and sacred figure who is not responsible for the economic situation in the country, but is responsible for the country's greatness," Levinson told the Gaidar Forum audience.
"The more Russians feel that they are threatened by the outside world, the more they will consolidate around Putin," he said.
Predictions and Advice
As the session drew to a close, Gozman asked the participants to offer words of advice to Putin, and to hypothesize about the coming year.
Most experts recommended that Putin introduce fair competition into the political system, in particular by allowing possible "successors" to emerge.
"Russia must find a mechanism that would introduce rotation into government … No regime can survive without rotation at the very top," said Timothy Colton, professor of government and Russian studies at Harvard and chairman of the university's department of government.
As for the coming year, most experts were grim, predicting that the crisis in Ukraine will likely escalate over the course of 2015, and that protest activity in Russia will likely remain small-scale and localized, even if it intensifies.
Gozman said that most of the last year's predictions failed to materialize, and that the prize — a bottle of booze — would therefore not be awarded to any of the panelists. However, next year's winner will get two bottles to distract from the dismal realities he or she correctly predicted this year — that is, if the Presidential Academy allows the same experts to hold such a panel again, he added.
I have very hard time listening or watching this man give speeches. I generally wait for transcript and read the speech.
As such I rarely see the tells that you mention.
I was unaware that 25th amendment had been brought up- if happened last week i was fairly disconnected from the news cycle.
Thanks for your insight, is most helpful.
Freepers have all noted how often he uses the word “I, my, me, and mine etc.” It's all central to his Narcissistic Personality, and his position of Power simply confirms to him he IS what he wants us to believe he is but we don't....standard trait again of using I all the time...he believes 'HE' should be paid attention to MORE than what he's actually saying or presenting.
I took a moment to read some other reviews on it...seems they're in agreement it's a great book and spot on. I think I'm going to get it. Might shed further light since there are so many revolts worldwide...and seem to surface quite quickly and easily enough that you know there's more to it then the actual purpose it began with. ...it's like anyone with 'any' grievance jumps on the wagon.
Socialist oligarchy works that way. The government comtracts out through redistribution all the schools, hospitals, housing rents, car manufacturers etc... Thus a few monopoly with a few rich people exist and the rest are workers living in poverty and without land.
Putin is already starting to flail about - could be a sign of some nasty stuff to come. In the end, he loses, but how many more also suffer is an open bet.
Excellent book.
Serbsky Institute-Now Hiring. Must have experience with Black and Decker rechargeable drills and battery chargers...
Pick any point in Russian history and you’ll find a descent into madness. It’s par for the course. If radical Islam gets the bomb it will be via their take over of Russia.
Hmmmm..... the article presumes the Russian people have the gumption and where withal to revolt
I doubt it
More likely, they will resolve the issues by drinking more vodka
Analysts Predict a Russian US Descent Into Madness
There is something in the Russian mentality that make them want an absolute ruler. They had a shot at freedom and tossed it in the Round File for another absolute ruler, Putin.
Putin in the Czar even they don’t call him Czar. It is rare in Russian history for them to overthrow their Monarch for anything other than a different one.
Both’s supporters have a god like reverence, because they mistakenly think they will be included in the Ruling Class.
....”There is something in the Russian mentality that make them want an absolute ruler”.....
Familiarity.
Russian people are like abused wives who leave their husbands brutality.......once they are free they have no clue what to do “with” that freedom as they’ve lived under a “ruler” who sets what they can and should do.
How would they know what choice is if all is determined for them. Let alone passion and critical thinking to rise above their circumstances under their own strength.
In reality our nation people are quickly adapting to a government that “takes care of them”....though here there is a push back because we can identify when our freedom is being taken away.
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