Paul Goble — Russia Needs a Civil Society But Not a Liberal One, Rostov Analysts Argue

The Interpreter is ultra-liberal. This post presents an opposition view, and while the author concludes on a liberal note, it pretty well summarizes the thinking of a great many Russians. Liberalism is blip on the screen in Russia since the failed experiment of the Nineties almost collapsed the country and turned it into a mafia state in which "oligarchs" (euphemism for Mafia dons) enriched themselves by selling Russian natural resources to the West and appropriating ownership formerly state owned enterprises through privatization schemes. 

As a result, Russia will likely be lost to liberalization for a long time to come, although Vladimir Putin leans liberal himself. However, he is a politician that understands Russia and acted swiftly when he realized that liberalism was taking Russia in the wrong direction. Putin is playing his role quite skillfully by balancing opposing social, political and economic interests in Russia quite even-handedly, which means no interest is entirely satisfied. But if Russia were governed as the majority of Russians would like to see, it would be far more conservative and illiberal.

Western liberals are under the illusion that the difference between totalitarian Communism and Western liberalism is black and white with no middle ground. So Western liberals erroneously assumed that Russians and Eastern Europeans would become Westernized liberals. Whether this is due to ideology or naïveté, it's fantasy. Now they are surprised to find that Russian and some Eastern Europeans are choosing other alternatives as the best fit for them. Which is what liberalism is about isn't it?

The Interpreter
Russia Needs a Civil Society But Not a Liberal One, Rostov Analysts Argue
Paul Goble