Political Analyst Sees No Signs Of Crisis In Russia

Kremlin and Moscow Environs Aerial View

(RIA Novosti – Moscow, 3 December) Political analyst Aleksey Mukhin believes that the authors of the Carnegie Centre’s report “The awakening of Russia” are somewhat late with their conclusions, some of which could have been partially accepted in December 2011 – March 2012. According to Mukhin, there is no reason to talk about a crisis in the country, including a political crisis.

The Carnegie Centre prepared a report which said there was a political crisis in Russia. The report said that a triple crisis was brewing in Russia: a crisis of personalized power, of a model of capitalism based on rent and of a paternalistic model of social behaviour.

The report said Russian society is conditionally divided between representatives of different states. One is populated by conservatives who support One Russia (United Russia), another one by the middle class, who want to influence the authorities, and the third by residents of the North Caucasus and the Muslim community. According to the Carnegie Centre, there is a great risk of a negative scenario for Russia – a revolution or a split in the country.

“The Carnegie Centre gives preference to a liberal-pessimistic development scenario of Russia’s political and economic system for one simple reason – they are desperate to provide a serious explanation to simple things – the events that occurred between December 2011 and March 2012. Back then liberal groups and so-called ‘angry urbanites’ had a chance to change the situation but they missed it,” Mukhin said, commenting on the Carnegie Centre’s report in an interview with RIA Novosti.

He said that the liberals and “angry urbanites” had failed to become a real political force that can attract the masses. According to him, even if they had a chance in December-March, now it’s too late.

“The Carnegie report is a bit late. Back then there was a really serious situation that could have developed in into a revolutionary situation. But this required not only political causes, which were present, but also social and economic reasons, which were absent,” the expert said.

He added that in this regard the authors’ conclusions were a bit late and far-fetched.

“At the moment, there are no even political reasons for a revolutionary situation. Even the opposition Coordination Council admits this, so they are changing the format of their work with people,” Mukhin said.

The political analyst added that he saw no reason for a crisis. He said that a financial crisis is accompanied by a huge inflation and bankruptcies, and a social or political crisis by people protesting in the streets. “I do not see this. The internet platform is too narrow to draw conclusions,” the analyst said.

He also said that the crisis of capitalism is real but it concerns the whole world.

“All the features that are inherent to capitalist society are present in Russia, including negative ones… Critics of Russia are talking about its commodity dependence; they are saying that Russia is dependent on fuel… But many countries with vast natural resources have been dependent on them for centuries and can’t care less,” the analyst said.

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