Viedoklis: kur slēpjas problēma ar Krieviju

Lai drusku atslābtu no informācijas bada un stresainās situācijas, kurā es kā vienkārši aktīvs pilsonis neko nevaru daudz izdarīt, es papētiju, ko Google saka par tēmu "Krievijas bailes no Rietumiem". Un necerēti uzraku ļoti lielu zelta gabalu - 2006. gada Mašas Lipmanes (Masha Lipman) raksts par to, kas īsti notiek ar Krieviju un kāpēc tai ir nopietnas problēmas izlausties no apburtā loka.

Tiem, kas slinkāki, neliels izvilkums, kas raksturo manas pārdomas par Krievijas valsti un tās ciklisko slīdēšanu atpakaļ purvā, cenšoties paraut līdzi citus:

The Russian Orthodox Church has, of course, traditionally been hostile to values and influences from the West. What seems noteworthy here is that the council session was attended by several high-ranking pro-Kremlin legislators and government executives who listened reverentially as this church leader challenged liberal values and denounced what he referred to as the "militant zeal of a secular, humanitarian approach." Moreover, the council was broadly publicized by the government-controlled media, and a television talk show a couple of days later had an audience that showed its strong support for the view that the Western concept of human rights was inherently alien to the Russian people.

Throughout Russian history the inevitable need to catch up with the West has been accompanied by a reluctance to accept the Western model of development, and this has led to xenophobia, anti-Western sentiments and isolationism. The late 1980s and early '90s were the years of promise, when it seemed that Russia might break out from this vicious circle of national development. But this promise was not fulfilled.

The hardships of the early post-communist years caused bitter disillusionment. The insecurity and disparities in wealth under fledgling capitalism brought anxiety and resentment. The task of reforming a nation crippled and demoralized by decades under an inhuman regime proved insurmountable. It would have taken a true visionary to mobilize the Russian people and pursue the path of modernization. And Vladimir Putin is no visionary. He addressed his nation's pain and anger by offering a return to traditional paternalism -- a model that people welcomed with a sense of relief. For even if the government was habitually self-seeking, incompetent and corrupt, it was once again possible for people to avoid making choices and assuming responsibility for Russia's future.