A Time and a Place for Russia
In an opinion editorial for The International Herald Tribune, Mikhail Khodorkovsky comments that in Russia today, for all practical purposes, there is no real parliament, independent judiciary, freedom of speech or effective civil society.
Khodorkovsky states the hopes for the formation of a new Russian economy. Russia's industrial output, apart from raw materials, is not capable of competing even on the country's domestic market. Russia's international role has changed drastically as well; more likely feared than respected. He notes that Russia is a huge exporter of two kinds of commodities: "The first export is hydrocarbons, crude oil or natural gas. The second is corruption." In his view, that not just Kremlin, but also Russia's elites, are to blame.
Khodorkovsky warns that Russia risks further degenerating into a classic third-world-style, raw materials-based economy, "where corruption is the norm rather than the exception and there is no working system of democratic and social institutions."
With regards to foreign relations, Khodorkovsky believes that the extent Russia succeeds at co-existence with its neighbors should be regarded as one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century.
Khodorkovsky argues that to deal successfully with its internal political problems, Russia must continue to develop a democratic model of governance for the whole country. At the same time Western leaders should return to a strategic dialogue with Russia and develop a strategic policy that is not dependent on Russia's current leading exports.