Paul Jay - Putin is Anointed King, but Big Capital has the Real Power - RAI with A. Buzgalin

Aleksandr Buzgalin, a professor of political economy at the Moscow University, says that Putin is only a figurehead and that the real power lies with the Russian oligarchs. After the collapse of the Soviet Union the oligarchs fought each other over the state industries, which was often very violent with drive-by shootings, etc, but once they had got as much as they could they wanted stability so they allowed Putin to gain power. .

Paul Jay says the problem the West has with Putin is that its oligarchs got pushed out of the power grab for the Russia's state industries and resources and not even Western finance has been able to gain a foothold.

Aleksandr Buzgalin says that Putin did take Russia very slightly to the left, but he's no friend of the working man. He says the Communist Party has a few communist slogans, but it is really a nationalist party with an admiration of Stalin.

Aleksandr Buzgalin says there is a real left movement in Russia of which he is part of. But can the good people ever overcome the oligarchs? Let's hope so. And there are good people amongst the very wealthy too, and they maybe even in the majority with the extended family. So there's hope?

It seems wherever you go the ruling elite remain in charge. Look Jeremy Corbyn? Who backs him. Paul Mason, Bill Mitchell, Momentum, and me? But the ruing class run finance, commerce, the media, the military-industrial complex, and industry, and can ensure Corbyn policies get run into the ground.

Paul Craig Roberts said that Hugo Chavez was a good guy so didn't put the elite,who tried to dispose of him in a coup, on trail for treason and then hang them. But how can good win against evil when evil will murder, bribe, kidnap, threaten your family, and be capable of any heinous, act? So evil rules the world and the general population is unaware, but the internet is slowly spreading the truth.

Maybe China is different?

On Reality Asserts Itself, Prof. Aleksandr Buzgalin says after the chaotic ‘90’s, the Russian oligarchs needed a stronger central state to defend their class interests, but Putin’s individual power should not be exaggerated - with host Paul Jay.