Archive January 2009
Obama's Opportunity? Russia's Crisis I
Andrew Kuchins, director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington and Samuel Charap a visiting fellow at the program comment that it would be premature to conclude that economic dire straits have led the Russians to make a definitive turn toward confrontation. In fact, the crisis has created clear incentives for Russia to head in the opposite direction and cooperate with the West.
Confusing Friend and Foe Russia's Crisis II
When 80 people prominent in culture and the arts recently sent an open letter to President Dimitri Medvedev appealing for the release of a pregnant woman, Svetlana Bakhmina, a lawyer imprisoned in the Yukos affair, nothing happened.
Approach Russia with Great Caution
Now, as before, pragmatic caution should be the watchword in dealing with Russia.
Russia, China Blame Woes on Capitalism
Vladimir Putin and China's Premier Wen Jiabao have slammed the U.S. economic system in speeches at Davos, holding it responsible for the global economic crisis. The rapid collapse of oil and commodities prices has hit Russia hard on top of the ripples of the financial crisis.
Democracy Should Not Be for the Rich Only
Konstantin Sonin, a professor at the New Economic School/CEFIR and columnist for Vedomosti, comments that corruption is just as harmful during an economic boom as it is during a down-turn. The difference is that when times are good, the overall cost to the economy and society are less noticeable.
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