Since the recent parliamentary elections in Russia, spontaneous protests have broken out, with many planned demonstrations resulting in hundreds of arrests, but much restraint on every side. People are generally displeased with the flagrant election rigging and attempts to influence and even buy votes by Putin's ruling party Единая Россия usually translated "United Russia" but "One Russia" is closer, as the first word is that same as that in the Creeds for: "one Lord, one Church, and one baptism" a blatantly mono-lithic term. And Russia is a country that loves monolithic, absolute autocratic power, to a point. United Russia crossed that line. And Russia is getting fed up and finding its voice again prior to the upcoming presidential elections.
Russia's Stunning Protests
For the first time since Perestroika in the '80's and Yeltsin's landslide votes in the '90's "dissent" is cool again. Most Russians are very cynical about politics or anyone in power actually caring or doing anything for the "average Ivan." This election was cynical too, but it was encouraging to see the interest in the process, "civil responsibility," and the good of the country, even if everyone was sure of the outcome.
Now I believe the outcry is not "the answer," but certainly a step in the right direction.
Russia is not ready for democracy, but it is making it clear that it is getting an idea of what it does not want. At this point all that they can voice is protest. But that is better than the typically cynical resignation of the past. Many Russians feel that they have been violated in some way through this process. It is as if they are saying to "United Russia": "No one else may have any better answers or be more politically viable in Russia right now, but you cannot make a mockery of the democratic process."
If that is the case it may be the first step that Russia takes decidedly away from autocratic power (and not just communism), and towards a politicial consciousness as a nation. Hopefully, and eventually that would lead towards some form of legitimate democratic power, of, by and for the people. That is if the hot heads do not spark a crisis, which is what we would expect from the precedent of Russian history.
Hopefully everyone understands that a crisis would force either a government crackdown or revolution, both of which would most certainly turn the clock back, and "welcome" back a totalitarian peacekeeper, further reinforcing the cynical resignation already deeply intrenched in the Russian mindset, but a rare exception to which we are witnessing on the streets of Russia today.
Russia's Stunning Protests
For the first time since Perestroika in the '80's and Yeltsin's landslide votes in the '90's "dissent" is cool again. Most Russians are very cynical about politics or anyone in power actually caring or doing anything for the "average Ivan." This election was cynical too, but it was encouraging to see the interest in the process, "civil responsibility," and the good of the country, even if everyone was sure of the outcome.
Now I believe the outcry is not "the answer," but certainly a step in the right direction.
Russia is not ready for democracy, but it is making it clear that it is getting an idea of what it does not want. At this point all that they can voice is protest. But that is better than the typically cynical resignation of the past. Many Russians feel that they have been violated in some way through this process. It is as if they are saying to "United Russia": "No one else may have any better answers or be more politically viable in Russia right now, but you cannot make a mockery of the democratic process."
If that is the case it may be the first step that Russia takes decidedly away from autocratic power (and not just communism), and towards a politicial consciousness as a nation. Hopefully, and eventually that would lead towards some form of legitimate democratic power, of, by and for the people. That is if the hot heads do not spark a crisis, which is what we would expect from the precedent of Russian history.
Hopefully everyone understands that a crisis would force either a government crackdown or revolution, both of which would most certainly turn the clock back, and "welcome" back a totalitarian peacekeeper, further reinforcing the cynical resignation already deeply intrenched in the Russian mindset, but a rare exception to which we are witnessing on the streets of Russia today.
