The view from Russia: democracy vs order
Gideon Rachman of the Financial Times reports the findings of a survey carried out by the Levada centre, an independent research group.
"Asked what was more important, "order" or "democracy" - 68 per cent opt for order, 11 per cent for democracy. Some 31 per cent of Russians say they have a positive or very positive feeling about the word "communism"; 11 per cent feel that way about capitalism; democracy gets a 21 per cent positive rating. But "great power" gets 72 per cent approval and "motherland" gets 88 per cent approval. Oh, and only 29 per cent accept Russia's current borders and only 21 per cent think of themselves as "European"."
His full report is .
There has never been democracy in Russia, at least not since a brief moment during Karenksy's regime around 1917 before the Bolsheviks took power. There was never democracy after communism ended, that is an illusion and a lie. If there was, how does anyone explain that the property which constituted the entie USSR and was supposedly owned by everyone equally wound up in the hands of a relatively few "oligarchs" almost overnight while the rest of the population got nothing? What kind of democracy was that? Everything since has been a battle between the oligarchs and the KGB for political power. Right now it seems the KGB is winning as "the proles" (everyone else) look on helplessly, most delusional and in denial of reality.
Complain about this postDemocracy is an unfamiliar beast for the Russians.
Complain about this postIt's messy - it takes too much time to listen to different points of view and to make decisions that please the majourity.
Strong leadership (a euphemism for dictatorship) is much easier: decisions are made quickly and efficiently. And if people disagree, well that's their own fault – as everything is done for "their own good". Plus I think most Russians believe that there is a correct answer to every question and issue, that there can’t be two right opinions!
So no surprise that order is winning in the polls!