Reading about Yeltsin's concerns, I came to the conclusion that Russia isn't a real Democracy.
Boris Yeltsin died a broken man, devastated that the democratic ideals he had tried to nurture were gradually being extinguished by his handpicked successor, Vladimir Putin, friends and former colleagues said yesterday. Russia's first freely elected leader lived his last seven years as a virtual media recluse, never daring to criticise Mr Putin in public under an apparent deal to protect members of his family from criminal prosecution.
But what is a Democracy?
Many people think of democracy as free elections, some other basic rights (like free speech) and not much more. But really, that's only the beginning. There are plenty of countries that have free and fair elections and yet are clearly not democratic because their ruling parties have a permanent, immovable hammerlock on power. One key thing that separates strong democracies from weak democracies is that the latter use the police power of the state as a tool of the ruling party. Russian President Vladimir V. Putin doesn't mind throwing his enemies in jail or sending out the police to break up protests.
Then, is Russia a real Democracy?
Vladimir Putin's Russia, in many ways, looks and feels like a new Soviet Union. The Russian president, who once praised democratic reform, now rules, some Russian experts say, like an old party chairman — crushing all opposition, cracking down on anti-government protests, even appointing mayors and regional governors. Putin calls it “sovereign democracy.” Critics call it dictatorship. "Today, if Putin says 'I want this' it will be done," says Vladimir Ryzhkov, a member of parliament.
When Democracy fails in any country it is a sad thing, when it fails in Russia it can be very dangerous.
What do you think?
Is Russia a real Democracy?
Should the World be more concerned about what's going on in Russia? The World is very worried about Iran not being a real Democracy and its nuclear program, but what about Russia?
Is another Soviet Union being born? How would this affect the World, specially the EU?
Boris Yeltsin died a broken man, devastated that the democratic ideals he had tried to nurture were gradually being extinguished by his handpicked successor, Vladimir Putin, friends and former colleagues said yesterday. Russia's first freely elected leader lived his last seven years as a virtual media recluse, never daring to criticise Mr Putin in public under an apparent deal to protect members of his family from criminal prosecution.
But what is a Democracy?
Many people think of democracy as free elections, some other basic rights (like free speech) and not much more. But really, that's only the beginning. There are plenty of countries that have free and fair elections and yet are clearly not democratic because their ruling parties have a permanent, immovable hammerlock on power. One key thing that separates strong democracies from weak democracies is that the latter use the police power of the state as a tool of the ruling party. Russian President Vladimir V. Putin doesn't mind throwing his enemies in jail or sending out the police to break up protests.
Then, is Russia a real Democracy?
Vladimir Putin's Russia, in many ways, looks and feels like a new Soviet Union. The Russian president, who once praised democratic reform, now rules, some Russian experts say, like an old party chairman — crushing all opposition, cracking down on anti-government protests, even appointing mayors and regional governors. Putin calls it “sovereign democracy.” Critics call it dictatorship. "Today, if Putin says 'I want this' it will be done," says Vladimir Ryzhkov, a member of parliament.
When Democracy fails in any country it is a sad thing, when it fails in Russia it can be very dangerous.
What do you think?
Is Russia a real Democracy?
Should the World be more concerned about what's going on in Russia? The World is very worried about Iran not being a real Democracy and its nuclear program, but what about Russia?
Is another Soviet Union being born? How would this affect the World, specially the EU?
Last edited by sergeriver (2007-04-26 05:50:29)