Putin's economic success creates his own political challenges
BARNETT
POLITICS & ECONOMICS: "Crackdown Galvanizes Foes of Putin: Arrests, Beatings of Protesters May Unify Kremlin Opponents Ahead of Presidential Elections," by Alan Cullison and Guy Chazan, Wall Street Journal, 16 April 2007, p. A4.
Honestly, if I were to say read one column and one column only in the MSM, it would be the WSJ's "Politics & Economics." Since I don't always label it so, you probably don't realize that I cite it far more than anything or anyone else.
Great piece here that shows Putin's heavy hand on politics inevitably engenders resistance. For a while, the rising incomes and investments will keep most off the playing field, given the tumultuous 1990s, but those memories will fade and as economic confidence rises, so too will political demands for freedom.
It probably won't happen this election, but quite possibly during the administration of Putin's successor.
Good stuff to see, even better to track.
Don't worry. I keep all the 2x2 matrices in my head now.
That's what I want to teach in Vol. III.
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