Ahh but Neo, a change of institutions is much much harder than it is to say so, unfortunately. The inertia is very strong in Russia. It only took Stalin 20 years of terror to turn the USSR into a totalitarian state, but it has taken since his death to even begin to reverse the process. The country is in many ways the same as it was when Lenin came to power, only democratic institutions are unable to force the drastic measures he was able to take to build the nation.
I dont see much potential in true market reforms being implemented as the conditions in Russia now stand. Its a pessimistic view, but as far as I personally see, Russia has only two roads for the immediate future: despotism or dissolution. If a despot comes along, Russia may still have a chance. History hasnt been very kind to Lenin, I dont agree with his Marxism (which he preached more than he practiced) but at the time of his death Russia had a real future, until Stalin. I think her only chance is as you said, an intermediary despotism, because I honestly dont think democratic institutions can avoid being abused to maintain the status quo. Strangely enough, Russia may need a Pinochet... <g> |
