The future of Russia

[Serb]

Never heard about that before (I didn't watch many local news recently) and didn't notice any smoke during last two days. It's a big city with population about 1,5 million. So, if something is burning on the other cide of the city, it's not necessary I should know about this.

[TheStinger]

Originally posted by paiktis22
A very close relationship with the EU (next to actual member) while getting rid of UK will benefit everyone.

Still gutted that the UK helped stop Stalin take over your sun filled paradise

[Saras]

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk

http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/local/RSXX0080?from=search_city

Umm...why is the current weather in Omsk..."smoke"?

You need to ask?

[Cruddy]

Sorry Saras. Couldn't tick any of the possibilities because I don't think any of them are likely.

Russia will become universally prosperous and westernise and join EU, etc.

Yeltsin made it plain he would love to join the EU. The problem is that it would bankrupt the EU and lead to massive inflation inside Russia - hardly a recipe for prosperity. Also, "universally" prosperous means no poor people. Given Russia's climate, it's no wonder they're not exactly Brazil when it comes to being poor but cheerful.

HOWEVER, I think this is closest to where Russia's future lies, if only it can boost the levels of the middle classes (anaethema to many ex-Communists) withouth stamping on the face of the poor.

Russia will slip into dictatorship and bully its neighbors

Like it isn't bullying Chechnya now? However, this is a popular move within Russia, and not the result of a dictatorship.

I think Russian's, having been bitten so hard by Bolshevism, are not about to go down the autocratic route - at least not to the extreme.

Russia will recreate USSR

This is the most unlikely thing for the above reasons.

Russia will become a banana republic

Just about possible if global warming goes that far .

In short - I think Russia has a bright future if it can maintain excellence in space, in mineral production and in political diversity.

The tricky bit is to get the foreign exchange in without exporting large amounts of weaponry which can cause instability outside of Russia and hence lead to instability inside Russia.

[Meticulous Man]

I like to hope that Russia has a bright future so I ticked the first option. The "coldness theory" doesn't sound plausible to me. The fatalism typical of Russians shines through.

[The Vagabond]

There is a fundamental inconsistency in your poll, Saras. Things like becoming prosperous and westernized, bullying the neighbors, and recreating the USSR are not incompartible! On the contrary, they should all be realized simultaneously on a complementary basis!

[The Vagabond]

Like it isn't bullying Chechnya now?

Chechnya is not a neighbor! It's a part of the Russian Federation. Therefore, this doesn't fall under the "bullying the neighbor" category in Saras' poll.

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by Seeker
The sad thing is that DESPITE being blessed with tremendous natural advantages, Russian culture has made them suck. They drink too much, are too depressed or fatalistic, not idealistic enough.

Yeah, right. Just grabbing money can't make Russian man happy. He needs to know everything is part of a greater cause.

[Ben Kenobi]

They were like that during Tsarism, but had religion to moderate it.

So restore religion, and you satisfy Russians? Not that far-fetched. Solzhenitsyn maks a similar conclusion.

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by TheStinger


Still gutted that the UK helped stop Stalin take over your sun filled paradise

Thanking you for supporting brutes that made Greece a macarthian like state for decades? No thank you. I'd rather thank those who fought for democracy for this little piece of land throughout the end of WW2.

[Ecthy]

which must be why Greece became a proper democracy directly after the war

[Mr. President]

I think Russia will recover most of its Soviet-era power in time.

[Alexander's Horse]

If Greece was given back to Turkey that would solve a lot of arguments.

[Odin]

Too cold for agriculture? The climate of Moscow is almost identical to northern Minnesota, and we don't have any problems growing wheat, corn, beets, beans, sunflowers, soybeans, carrots, apples, strawberries, cherries, and grapes (yes, Minnesota has a few small wine makers).