Russian Protests

[Cailst]

Over the last few days, in the advent of the elections where United Russia, protesters have been rallying in Bolotnaya Square against the corruption they perceive in Russia.

What do you think of them from what we know so far? Do you believe they'll be able to snowball into a revolution? Or do you think it'll make an impact on the election or cause any changes in government? Or do you think it'll just be suppressed and have no effect on anything in Russia? Any thoughts?

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/12/12/the_era_of_apathy?page=0,0

http://www.periscopepost.com/2011/12/what-the-protests-in-russia-mean-is-this-the-slavic-spring/

 

[Sovereign]

it'll open the way for more political parties. Putin can no longer do everything he'd like to do. Russians are no longer apathetic. It won't be a revolution, but the power of the Kremlin will definitely be constrained.

 

[Fusion]

The communists caused a revolution 95 years ago. They know how to suppress it. It would take some serious work to turn this into a revolution, but I think it's doable.

 

[Cailst]

The communists caused a revolution 95 years ago. They know how to suppress it. It would take some serious work to turn this into a revolution, but I think it's doable.

Eh, while many of the current leaders do date from the communist era, they're not exactly running a communist regime. More of an authoritarian corporatist government. There are some current commies in parliament but they're not in control.

 

[Fusion]

Meh. Still seems like the government the Russians got in exchange for the Soviets wasn't that much better...

 

[Sovereign]

Meh. Still seems like the government the Russians got in exchange for the Soviets wasn't that much better...

Great insight.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

Meh. Still seems like the government the Russians got in exchange for the Soviets wasn't that much better...

This is the type of government they've wanted since the fall of the Soviet Union. The idea of "managed democracy," which is essentially democracy with an authoritarian flavor, has been popular in Russia. The Russians have wanted a strong country, which is why Stalin still has high approval ratings despite his atrocities.

As SIN said, though, more people are starting to wake up and recognize that this isn't such a great idea, which is why you're seeing these protests. Whether or not they have any impact is unknown right now, of course, but it does suggest a shift in the Russian peoples' way of thinking about their government.

At the very least, we're seeing Putin fatigue.