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• Putin and what comes next?

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  Chris Helmbrecht    Premium Member   Group moderator   Ambassador

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  Re^10: Putin and what comes next?

  Well, as said before I think you are expecting a little too much. Russia is such a large country (in fact the largest on our planet in dimension) and its only about 17 years since the communist system collapsed. In the meantime Russia suffered 2 almost revolutions and an economy crash, which wiped out the entire middle class. Besides that Russian culture is much different from our Western culture and it needs some time to get partly adjusted to the new times. What, if a country is just not ready for democracy, yet? Their people just don't get, what it means and a easy government would make it fall back into chaos? Does anybody consider that? Do you remember how long it took Europe to become democratic? And to be honest with you, I even challenge that and say that many countries within the EU aren't completly democratic, either. Of course, I don't want to compare them with Russia.
  
  Anyways, whoever says Russia is autocratic and wants it to be democratic by now and calls on Putin, is not realistic and follows stupid stereotypes put up by Western politicians and the media (or the economic forces behind). You need to understand, that a strong Russia is in nobody's interest in the West (neither the US, nor the EU). But, Russia is growing strong and we better accept it as it is and partner up with it, before they look for someone else. We depend on them for the resources, the military power and space exploration. They depend on us for our know how, (still) our money and economic system.
  
  What other options, than Putin, do we have in Russia? Consider a nationalistic idiot like Zhirinovsky leading this powerful country. A guy who is getting into fistfights with other Duma (parliament) members and aggressing everyone who doesn't share his worldview. How does that sound to you? How would his energy politics and responses to European criticismn be? You won't believe it, but this guy is hugely popular, especially among the elderly and he is on the TV on a daily basis.
  
  What does it show? That most of the Russian public doesn't take political responsibilty and they still need to learn democracy and about the fact, that it is them who vote and take decisions in the first place and not the other way around. This awareness is just not existing and it will take a long time until its in the peoples heads here in Russia. Putin has stabelized the country and its economy. I think that is a good step forward, because who is hungry and has problems to survive, doesn't think about politics (not a farmer in Russia).
  
  You just can't apply European rules and mentality to Russia for many reasons and that's why you have to be careful with overly critical statements.
  
  Sorry for this long response, but I am really getting tired of anti-Russian statements and stereotypes, which are just a simple repitition of what is published in the (also controlled) Western media. I am no friend of Russia and to be honest so fed up with the country and the culture sometimes, that I just want to leave (because its different, not bad), but I think us (Westerners) should try to understand Russia and the Russian people, before we judge them (too easily). This is especially important, because we simply CAN'T ignore Russia anymore and treat it like a 3rd world country in Africa (as we wish we could do it). Russia has grown too strong for that and its better to be friends with the neighbour than enemies, even if he has a different opinion on some issues.
  This post was modified on 22 Jan 2007 at 10:22 am.
  • 22 Jan 2007, 10:17 am
  Chris Helmbrecht wrote: > Well, as said before I think you are expecting a little too much. > Russia is such a large country (in fact the largest on our planet in > dimension) and its only about 17 years since the communist system > collapsed. In the meantime Russia suffered 2 almost revolutions and > an economy crash, which wiped out the entire middle class. Besides > that Russian culture is much different from our Western culture and > it needs some time to get partly adjusted to the new times. What, if > a country is just not ready for democracy, yet? Their people just > don't get, what it means and a easy government would make it fall > back into chaos? Does anybody consider that? Do you remember how long > it took Europe to become democratic? And to be honest with you, I > even challenge that and say that many countries within the EU aren't > completly democratic, either. Of course, I don't want to compare them > with Russia. > > Anyways, whoever says Russia is autocratic and wants it to be > democratic by now and calls on Putin, is not realistic and follows > stupid stereotypes put up by Western politicians and the media (or > the economic forces behind). You need to understand, that a strong > Russia is in nobody's interest in the West (neither the US, nor the > EU). But, Russia is growing strong and we better accept it as it is > and partner up with it, before they look for someone else. We depend > on them for the resources, the military power and space exploration. > They depend on us for our know how, (still) our money and economic > system. > > What other options, than Putin, do we have in Russia? Consider a > nationalistic idiot like Zhirinovsky leading this powerful country. A > guy who is getting into fistfights with other Duma (parliament) > members and aggressing everyone who doesn't share his worldview. How > does that sound to you? How would his energy politics and responses > to European criticismn be? You won't believe it, but this guy is > hugely popular, especially among the elderly and he is on the TV on a > daily basis. > > What does it show? That most of the Russian public doesn't take > political responsibilty and they still need to learn democracy and > about the fact, that it is them who vote and take decisions in the > first place and not the other way around. This awareness is just not > existing and it will take a long time until its in the peoples heads > here in Russia. Putin has stabelized the country and its economy. I > think that is a good step forward, because who is hungry and has > problems to survive, doesn't think about politics (not a farmer in > Russia). > > You just can't apply European rules and mentality to Russia for many > reasons and that's why you have to be careful with overly critical > statements. > > Sorry for this long response, but I am really getting tired of > anti-Russian statements and stereotypes, which are just a simple > repitition of what is published in the (also controlled) Western > media. I am no friend of Russia and to be honest so fed up with the > country and the culture sometimes, that I just want to leave (because > its different, not bad), but I think us (Westerners) should try to > understand Russia and the Russian people, before we judge them (too > easily). This is especially important, because we simply CAN'T ignore > Russia anymore and treat it like a 3rd world country in Africa (as we > wish we could do it). Russia has grown too strong for that and its > better to be friends with the neighbour than enemies, even if he has > a different opinion on some issues.
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