Of course, I understand what you write about the sorry state of affairs in Russia. I am far more optimistic than you about Russia, but can't disagree with most of what you say. Most discouraging is that I wonder what can feed the hopes of your generation, on which the future of the country depends. Of course, there is much about Russia that is good, and which gives grounds for hope. Yet, this does not negate your arguments.
To be sure, there has been enormous progress in the last twenty...
... somewhat troubled by recent Russian legislation requiring foreign-funded Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to register as foreign agents. However, as a social scientist I see the Universe unfolding as it should in Russia.
The widespread view that civil society is being rolled back rests on a mistaken assumption that civil society can be rolled back by actions of governments. On the contrary civil society is autonomous, by definition. It has a life of its own. It can sometimes be pushed under the ...
Many observers, both inside and outside Russia, view recent legislation requiring foreign-funded NGOs to register as foreign agents as a roll-back of democracy and civil society. President Putin has responded saying that the legislation was essentially copied from the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). In fact, much of what he has been saying in defense of the legislation could have been lifted from the ...