Putin and the Democratization Process - Political Forum

Kazikli Bey · 05-01-2008, 08:16 AM

I hear a lot that many people in the West do not like Vladimir Putin as he is a shady authoritarian and really does not represent democracy at all. So i wonder, do you think that Vladimir Putin's strong and decisive leadership has derailed the democratization process in Russia started by Yeltsin?

Personally, i do not think so, mainly because i keep being drawn to a certain quote by the last Tsarina of Russia, who said 'Russia loves to feel the whip'. Now, i'm not saying that a dictatorship is better for Russia with that quote, all i'm saying is that Russians probably respond better to authoritarianism as they have been used to it for so long and it works in Russia. Much like different cultures develop differently (that meaning that not every countries strives for a Jeffersonian Republic), that culture helps to influence how governments can form and i do believe that Russia's authoritarian democracy is merely a continuation of its culture.

So how bout y'all, do you think that Vladimir Putin's strong and decisive leadership has derailed the democratization process in Russia?

Tatiana_Kuznetsova · 05-03-2008, 01:37 PM

I do not why but for sure but analyzing the reasons behind Putin's meteoric rise to popularity, many political scientists, largely from the West, attach importance to Russia's political culture and its tolerance toward autocracy and worship of the supreme ruler. While it is hard to deny such native political trappings, just as everything related to the term "political culture", it should also not be overestimated. The "Putin phenomenon" is largely unique, since no political leader has enjoyed comparable support from the electorate either in late Soviet or post-Soviet history. Meanwhile, some facets of political culture have helped the President gain even greater traction. Russia has a traditional loathing for "Times of Trouble" and even the harshest political regime was far more palatable than periods of weak state power due to its destructive tendencies. All modern psychological studies foreground the main visceral fear of Russian people nowadays: i.e. the loss of stability attained in the country and national unity, as empitomized by Putin.

Caltex · 05-03-2008, 01:39 PM

Russians love their strong leaders. I don't think there will be multi-party Republicanism until there is a cultural shift. As for now, Putin has been fairly good for Russia, so at least they picked a decent autocrat.

Kazikli Bey · 05-04-2008, 06:26 AM

Yes, but in terms of the question. Would you consider him an obstruction to a democratic Russia, or democratic in terms of the Russian idea of democracy?

PayingAttention · 05-09-2008, 01:06 AM

He is popular among the ordinary working people because he reigned in the unbridled capitalist corruption and brought economic stability to Russia.

He understands Maslov's Hierarchy of Needs very well. Nobody is really interested in voting when they can't buy enough food and they just lost their pension.

I would suspect that most ordinary working Russians don't really give a damn about democracy.

sergie_sun · 05-09-2008, 06:23 AM

The key question is what is democracy? Sometimes I think that this word is used more often as a shield with no meaning and for political purposes.
As far as i am concerned we have more democracy right now than we have ever had in our history.
I think it is better to talk about some particular things rather than to talk about some general stuff without details.

PayingAttention · 05-09-2008, 12:06 PM

People (usually those living in comfortable houses and pulling down reliable paychecks and enjoying good health in low-crime neighbourhood with good schools) tend to talk about democracy and "freedom" as ends in themselves itself.

discoman · 05-09-2008, 05:29 PM

Listen,what do expect from a country
that produced the likes of Stalin,Trotskey
and Lennin. Stalin slaughtered thousands,
just on the slightest paranoid inclination
that they may challenge him for Power.As far as Iam concerened,these Russian leaders are all paranoid megalamaniacs.
With psychopathic inclinations.Putin is bit more capitalistic though,thats the only difference.

PayingAttention · 05-09-2008, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by discoman

Listen,what do expect from a country that produced the likes of Stalin,Trotskey and Lennin. Stalin slaughtered thousands, just on the slightest paranoid inclination that they may challenge him for Power.As far as Iam concerened,these Russian leaders are all paranoid megalamaniacs.
With psychopathic inclinations.

One could equally say that America produced the likes of the KKK, Bonnie and Clyde, Al Capone.

Or that Gemany produced the likes of Adolf Hitler or Heinrich Himmler.

Or that England produced the likes of Jack the Ripper.

None of these historical facts contribute much to an understanding of the respective countries in the present day.

Quote:

Putin is bit more capitalistic though,thats the only difference.

Is that a positive difference or a negative?

Caltex · 05-09-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kazikli Bey

Yes, but in terms of the question. Would you consider him an obstruction to a democratic Russia, or democratic in terms of the Russian idea of democracy?

No, I wouldn't think so. I don't think that he's rigging elections, I think the Russians voluntarily cling to a strong leader. I think given time they will shy away from the strong leader, and trend towards what we consider to be Democratic, but I don't think it's not being held up by the current leadership.