"Russia will soon be a one party state"

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by Oerdin


A distinction without difference. Especially since Putin has insured no other party, except possibly a tiny Communist Party, will get into Parliament. The media and financial controls along with the outright repression has seen to that.

True, what is going on now makes these distinctions pretty much irrelevant.

When defending measures stimulating formation of large stable parties, I proceed from from a "normal" situation, not the one we have now.

[VetLegion]

The reason this annoys me is that I have much sympathy for Russia. I know that Russians had a difficult past and a very difficult transition to capitalism (our own transition was much easier and even such it was hard).

I think these two measures are taking Russia in the wrong direction, away from market of political ideas and opinions and towards cementing the status quo. I hope I am proven wrong.

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by VetLegion
The reason this annoys me is that I have much sympathy for Russia. I know that Russians had a difficult past and a very difficult transition to capitalism (our own transition was much easier and even such it was hard).

Thank you. In fact, I am not surprised by what you've just said. It feels in your posts.

I think these two measures are taking Russia in the wrong direction, away from market of political ideas and opinions and towards cementing the status quo. I hope I am proven wrong.

In the present situation, it's true that these two measures play in favor of the authorities.

In the normal situation and in the long term, they would play in the right direction IMHO.

[The Vagabond]

Why are you waving the Belgian flag now, LOTM?

[Lancer]

So, the world is a new place since the cold war. The moslems and the Chinese pose greater threats than Russia can ever be again. The Putin needs to wake up to these threats on and within his borders and rethink who his buds should be. This is inevitable imo as this powers of a very foriegn nature will turn sour on him.

Why does he buddy up to Iran? There is no gain to be had.

[The Vagabond]

This is the first time I see Lancer consider in some form buddying up with the Russkies rather than just crushing them once and for all. Are you losing on your "Dr Strangelove" role, Lancer?

[Dinner]

If Russia wants foreign buyers for its military or civilian nuclear reactors it basically can only sell to states which can't get western or Asian allied western powers' (Japan, South Korea, etc) equipment. That means Russia sells to places like Iran, North Korea, Syria, etc...

It's just market politics for Putin. The reason Russia intially cozied up with China was to team up against US influence in central Asia and because Russia needed a partner to develop a new generation of military hardware. Russia has technology the Chinese want but little money (until recently) while the Chinese had money but needed technology. Thus the partnership.

On a long term basis after this round of technology transfers Russia will have little to offer China so that partnership isn't likely to last. In fact I fully expect in 10 years time to see Russia more worried about Chinese influence then American influence. For now though Putin enjoys building domestic support by playing up the supposed American boogyman.

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by Lancer
So, the world is a new place since the cold war. The moslems and the Chinese pose greater threats than Russia can ever be again. The Putin needs to wake up to these threats on and within his borders and rethink who his buds should be. This is inevitable imo as this powers of a very foriegn nature will turn sour on him.

Why does he buddy up to Iran? There is no gain to be had.

This is in fact true. But to be able to face off China and the Moslem world in the future and perhaps to become a western ally in this future fight, Russia must first successfully face off the West in the present. This is how things are unfortunately.

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by Oerdin
If Russia wants foreign buyers for its military or civilian nuclear reactors it basically can only sell to states which can't get western or Asian allied western powers' (Japan, South Korea, etc) equipment. That means Russia sells to places like Iran, North Korea, Syria, etc...

It's just market politics for Putin. The reason Russia intially cozied up with China was to team up against US influence in central Asia and because Russia needed a partner to develop a new generation of military hardware. Russia has technology the Chinese want but little money (until recently) while the Chinese had money but needed technology. Thus the partnership.

On a long term basis after this round of technology transfers Russia will have little to offer China so that partnership isn't likely to last. In fact I fully expect in 10 years time to see Russia more worried about Chinese influence then American influence. For now though Putin enjoys building domestic support by playing up the supposed American boogyman.

True. Another reason for cozying up with China is to keep things under control with the future adversary. Also remember that countries often buy western weapons not just because they consider it to be a better option than buying Russian ones, but rather because it's often part of the deal on being on good terms with the West.

[DaShi]

Plus, all the guns sold to China are designed to fall apart at the push of a button in Moscow.

[The Vagabond]

True. Just like all PCs at the push of a button at Microsoft.

[Lancer]

I've never been anti Russian, just anti communist. If Putin has the support of his people in disolving democracy then supporting him is the democratic thing to do. He's no commie...I like him. Russia needs a despot, and one who proclaims the value of democracy...well a little lip service can be a good thing.

Ok, a little too much Tatar in those Rooskies, I'll give you that.

Oerdin, interesting appraisal, I hope you're right. We'll need Russia to counter China in 20 years. Well you guys will. I'll be 70 and all I'll need is a clean diaper.

I wonder about the wisdom of Putin giving up power to a puppet. What could he be thinking?

[Lancer]

Originally posted by The Vagabond


True. Another reason for cozying up with China is to keep things under control with the future adversary. Also remember that countries often buy western weapons not just because they consider it to be a better option than buying Russian ones, but rather because it's often part of the deal on being on good terms with the West.

First step in the Finlandization of Russia?

[Theben]

Originally posted by Lancer
So, the world is a new place since the cold war. The moslems and the Chinese pose greater threats than Russia can ever be again. The Putin needs to wake up to these threats on and within his borders and rethink who his buds should be. This is inevitable imo as this powers of a very foriegn nature will turn sour on him.

Ehrm, excuse me? Did someone suddenly forget about those 1000's of nukes over in Russkiland?

And Putin as well as Russia will be thinking of their own global role in the world in a few years, if not already. Russia's too big, has too much potential, and too much pride to be an American lapdog. They'll carve out their own sphere of influence pretty soon. After all, that's what capitalist, imperialist powers do.

[Lancer]

Lapdog? No! Partner in survival of the west. Putin remembers Afghanistan, I wouldn't expect too much adventuring out of him. However, whatever, might be entertaining to see Russian tanks heading south. As far as all those missiles, my guess is they look like all those subs.

The news has been sort of dull recently for lack of despots at the helm of great powers. Putin is our greatest hope in this regard.