Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

A new Russia?

By Graeme Gill - posted Monday, 13 November 2006


At least in Moscow and many of the big cities, a new and more prosperous middle class seems to be emerging, and the poverty of the past has disappeared. In sharp contrast to Soviet times, those Russians who have money can now purchase anything they want in Moscow. And the number of people who possess such money seems to be growing in Russian society. It needs to, given that Moscow has been classed as the most expensive city in the world in which to live. However it is not clear how long such a boom can be sustained given that it relies on continuing high oil prices.

The improved economic situation hides other continuing problems. One is the continuing presence of crime and corruption.

Russia earned the unenviable reputation in the 1990s of being a very dangerous society. There were a large number of killings and assassinations during the decade, principally of businessmen and tax collectors, while the level of crime rose substantially.

Advertisement

In the business sphere, one of the areas of greatest growth has been in the protection industry. This has involved the employment of a firm to provide protection from criminals and often to liaise with government officials. Crime is still significant - the recent assassination of the investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya is but one instance of this - but it seems to be at levels much lower than it was in the 1990s.

Corruption is also said to be very widespread. Reports of needing to bribe officials, from traffic police through to those issuing licences and permits, are common. Certainly business routinely builds into its costs a proportion of its turnover to grease the gears of public administration. This clearly adds significantly to business costs, but does at least ensure that things get done.

Another severe problem facing Russian society is health. The fall of the Soviet Union resulted in the collapse of an already staggering social security system. With the disappearance of much of the infrastructure necessary to sustain a healthy population, the Russian people have had to confront sharply escalating health challenges.

As well as the scourge of AIDS, formerly absent diseases like tuberculosis have made a comeback. High levels of cardiovascular disease, alcohol and drug abuse, and smoking characterise the society, adversely affecting people’s health and lifestyle.

Suicide has also increased. The decline in life expectancy that occurred in the last years of the Soviet Union has accordingly accelerated following the collapse, with the result that male life expectancy is only 59 and female expectancy a few years higher. All of this, added to the high rate of abortions, has led to a declining population; if it continues at the same rate, the current population of some 148 million will be only 52 million by 2080.

Another pressing problem on the Russian scene is the continuing instability in Chechnya. Having fought two wars in the past twelve years in the would-be breakaway republic - wars that were characterised by sickening brutality and torture on both sides - the Moscow government seems little closer to having a stable pro-Moscow administration in the republic. Unless an administration with widespread popular support can be created, it is unlikely that this sore will easily disappear.

Advertisement

Given this catalogue of problems, how are we to evaluate Russia’s future?

When Putin came to power, he saw his principal task as being to strengthen the state and thereby establish tighter central control over the country. This was clearly needed following the problems of the Yeltsin era, and has in part been achieved. It is this tightening of central control that has had such negative consequences for Russian democracy. However only if there is an effective state will the government have any chance of dealing successfully with these problems.

In this context, while we should remain critical of Russian lapses in democracy, we should recognise the immensity of the problems with which independent Russia has had to deal.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Graeme Gill is an ARC Professorial Fellow and Professor of Government and Public Administration at the University of Sydney. He has published widely on Russian and Soviet affairs, and has held visiting positions in Moscow, St Petersburg, Washington, Oxford, Cambridge, London and Florence.

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Graeme Gill
Article Tools
Comment Comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy