NEWSWATCH: “Russia’s Bad Equilibrium” – project-syndicate/Anders Åslund
After more than two years of economic contraction, Russia seems to have achieved some semblance of stability. Though economic growth is expected to reach only about 1% in 2017, the fear of economic destabilization that has permeated the country since its 2014 invasion of Crimea – which was met with crippling sanctions from the West – has all but evaporated. The combination of foreign-policy optimism, creature comforts, and domestic repression seems to be a potent elixir. … as in … Brezhnev’s time, foreign policy is overshadowing Russia’s domestic politics. Unlike then, however, Russia’s prospects are looking up. … Trump has made clear his desire to improve relations with the Kremlin, and will reportedly meet with … Putin in June. …
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