Russia has excelled in the arts and literature. It has produced
great musicians (Haifetz, Rubenstein, and others), composers (Tchaikovsky,
Glazunov, Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov, and others), writers (Dostoyevsky, Chekov,
Tolstoy,and others), ballet dancers (Pavlova, Nijinsky, and others). In the
sciences, the Russian chemist Mendeleev formulated the periodic table of
elements, the physiologist Pavlov did research in conditioning behavior. There
have been many other great Russian scientists. One might say that out of one of
the largest populations in the world one is bound to find some talented people,
but nonetheless one can not deny that the Russian people have excelled in the
arts and sciences.
However, when it comes to government, Russia has fallen
behind both historically and in the present. Russia lived through centuries of
oppressive Czarist rule, but during most of that time most countries were
monarchies. The end of serfdom came late to Russia when Alexander II (probably
the most progressive of all Russian czars) freed the serfs in 1861, but after
he was assassinated in 1881 his son Alexander III became one of the most
repressive czars. After the first Russian Revolution in 1917 the Provisional
Government led by Alexander Kerensky attempted democracy but failed and was
overturned after 8 months by the October Revolution which brought in the
Communist government lead by Lenin, later Stalin, and then a succession of
other leaders. The Communist government ultimately brought order and socialism
combined with authoritarianism which became particularly repressive under
Stalin. Communism ended and the Soviet Union broke up into 15 independent
republics in 1991, leaving Russia as smaller than the Soviet Union but still
one of the largest countries in the world. The socialist side of communism then
ended in Russia bringing a reactive extreme capitalism. Russia under Boris
Yeltsen became afflicted with chaos and poverty. Then Putin stepped in and
brought order but also extreme authoritarianism, nativism, and repression of
anyone who opposed him. Russia’s brief and poorly executed flirtation with
democracy ended, which is where Russia is today.
Russia has long been an introvert country with a fear of
intrusion from the West. The idea of their former republics and satellites
joining the West and bringing NATO to their western border drives them crazy.
In Putin’s view, his mission is to protect Russia by undermining and weakening
the West, especially the USA. This policy is a continuation of what the
Communist Soviet union did during the cold war. But now instead of the
communist Soviet Union dictatorship it is an oligarchical kleptocratic Russian
dictatorship. It is still the same Russian paranoia and anti-globalism. It is Putin’s view that democracy brings chaos and dictatorship
brings stability. Now Putin’s intelligence services have compromised a number
of leaders in their former satellites and beyond. It appears that they have
been successful at the present time in compromising the American president
(Trump) and a number of gullible Trump supporter including those in the American
Congress. However, the election of Trump has awakened the American people to
the threat. Since Trump’s election, Americans have demonstrated in large
numbers and have joined campaigns to encourage voters. The free press which at
first tried to be even handed finally realized that it is impossible to be even
handed with a perpetual liar like Trump. Our intelligence services which Putin
thought were asleep have been watching Putin’s hackers all along and compiling
the truth.
Unlike Russia, we have an almost 250 years history of
democracy, immigration, and diversity. Democracy appears to be fragile, but
here in America now awakened, it will come roaring back. And when it returns, our
alliance with NATO will be stronger than ever.
One last thing, we hear in the news about Russian hacking
and the Russian threat. The enemy is Putin, not all the Russians. There are
people in Russia who would oppose him, but it is not safe to do so. A number of
his opponents have been assassinated. Democracy does not always come easily.
Perhaps one day it will come to Russia.
