Jan 11, 2008

The Myth of Putinism

The latest article in Foreign Affairs by Michael McFaul and Kathryn Stoner-Weiss is a biggie.

They write, "The data simply do not support the popular notion that by erecting autocracy Putin has built an orderly and highly capable state that is addressing and overcoming Russia's rather formidable development problems. Putin's failures in this regard are all the more striking..."

In key sectors like security, health, and development, Russia has preformed worse under Putin than during the Yeltsin era. Economic growth is bleow the post-Soviet average. Murder rates are higher. Terrorist attacks are higher. People are dying younger. Meanwhile the population at large has yet to fully gain from the energy boom. Many are doing worse.

Prognosis? Russia will become the new Angola: a failed state built on rents and oil. Not really new. But its good to see that Fukuyama's disciples are still beating the drum. Even if the prophet of democracy and markets has all but disavowed them.

And kudos to Foreign Affairs' for trying to salvage its reputation after the Dmitri Simes dissaster.

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