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Why Putin was against punishment for Pussy Riot, and how he failed to win over a divided Russia

As I said before, Pussy Riot's trial hinged on Church influence and Putin's populist tendencies left him as if he were a paper tiger throughout the trial. Putin gains support from both the liberal and conservative electorate, and when he said that they shouldn't be punished too harshly he was making an attempt to appease both sides. This, as the latest polls show, did not work.



Something Western media tends to overlook is the amount of reading between the lines in Russian government. Whilst in international relations Russian intentions are obvious, domestically it has become a different matter. When talking about America as 'Comrade Wolf', people were confused but it was in fact concerning a Russian fable. Wolf, Fox and Hare fell into a trap and cannot get out of the pit. After a little while they feel hungry. Wolf asks: Who shall we eat? Fox answers (looking awry at Hare): "Comrade Wolf knows whom to eat.

What doesn't help too is the idea that Putin has consolidated all power, and 'manages' the democracy. This is simply not true, albeit specious. Putin not only has to appease the public (he is treading on ice when opinion polls go against him), but also the institutions (such as the Church) and other politicians (such as Medvedev).

At the 2012 Seleger Youth Forum, Putin was asked tough questions such as fines for election fraud and the influence of the Orthodox church in the judiciary (a problem highlighted in my previous post - see link at top). Ria Novosti reported: "Putin talked about renewal and continuity in government and said that the country had no need for a quasi-Orthodox Komsomol." Putin said "if they had gone to the Caucasus, desecrated a Muslim sacred thing, we would have even been unable to take them into custody."

Pussy Riot was one of the worst things that could have happened for Putin. in 2006, upon the murder of a journalist and critic of government, Putin said that her death "inflicts much greater damage to the government than any of her writing." It is not a wholly dissimilar situation today; as we can see it has left Putin's support divided, and Putin's opposition incited and mobilised. Whilst it is certain that he can ride this through, it will be extremely damaging and hurt his influence in both the Church and government.

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Olympian Hangover for the British Government

 

The fortnight long party that was the Olympics has ended, and with it the Olympic spirit that momentarily distracted everyone from politics. A much needed moral boost for politics has now left, suddenly.

With the public memory of poorly implemented health reforms, a controversial budget, and the PR-disaster that was cutting taxes for the super rich Cameron has a lot to work on in the run up to the election. The credibility of the deficit reduction plan is no longer a prominent part of PR, coming at a time when all but one of the economists who praised the plan have now regretted doing so.

The economy is no longer a strong point, but Cameron's Big Society. What was seen as specious (at best) in 2010 has now finally pulled together. 70,000 volunteers, known appropriately as the 'Game-makers' contributed and the world at large was impressed at their good humour, professionalism, and the atmosphere they brought. Stifled laughter in government circles over the 'Big Society' might be current, but a campaign that highlights some of the few achievements the current government made might be vital to the Conservative's future.

Further reading:

• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/georgeosborne/9477918/George-Osborne-no-longer-enjoys-faith-of-former-prominent-economist-backers-over-deficit.html


• http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/2515871-olympics-over-now-back-work


• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19239265

 

Russia’s 'rational' and 'moral' stance on Syria

 

"So far Russia has been losing this rhetorical battle. But the Kremlin insists that its case transcends mere self-interest, and points the way back to a world governed by the rule of law.
Moscow's community of foreign policy experts — many of whom routinely excoriate the Kremlin — seem uncommonly united in support of Russia’s stance on Syria. They argue that the Kremlin is adhering to a conservative set of international values, based on respect for national sovereignty and the right of Syria's people to sort out their own future."

 

Pussy Riot: Martyrs for Secularism

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="622"] Graffiti in support of Pussy Riot in Central Moscow[/caption]

Anyone who has ever followed Russia's foreign policy knows that Vladimir Putin is known for shrewd political manoeuvring. This was perhaps best conveyed when, in 2003, he attended a conference in Asia. “Only days after listening to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathirʼs anti-semitic tirades .. Putin welcomed Ariel Sharon [former Israeli PM] to Moscow.” (Andrei Grachev). This was all whilst playing the ʻChina Chessboardʼ - selling weapons and negotiating increases in trade.

It, however, might not be so well known that this is reflected domestically too. Potentially conflicting images of a “modern, politician & democratic reformer of a Western type” and a “mildly nationalist & paternalist leader” have meant gain in the middle ground whilst retaining loyal support. In the past this worked fine, and voters were happy; Pussy Riot created something dangerous - a direct conflict between the Conservative church and the liberal public.

Review of 1989 by Sarotte

1989: The Struggle to Create Post-Cold War Europe

Analysis: The book's author, Sarotte, is a professor (of History and International Relations) at the University of Southern California. She's also a member of the Council of Foreign Relations and author of a few other books. The body of the book is just over 200 pages long, and is well worth a look for anything from a casual to an academic read.

I took this book out as a loan from a library for an essay, and considered it such a great resource that I ended up buying it on Amazon. It was the Financial Times' 'Book of the Year', and not without reason. The book gave a lot of insights into a very important year without losing sight of what could've happened, and the context behind everything.

1989 shows interest in Russia's part, and why Russia has been left on the sidelines of Europe since the end of the Cold War - something which is often left out of books about the events surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall.

A Euro Summit that went well

After a lot of wasting time on all sides, the last summit seems to have pulled everyone together a bit more.

Merkel seems to be the loser here, as Italy and Spain blocked certain pacts before they were given emergency measures to recapitalise banks. something that some foreign newspapers called blackmail.

Hollande benefited from Italy and Spain's block, "I said during the presidential campaign that I wanted to renegotiate the fiscal pact to add growth and stability measures and a medium-term vision. This summit has enabled us to achieve that" (quoted after the talks). Forming commitments with Southern member states, meeting German opposition leaders, and openly contradicting the German chancellor seems to have paid off then.

Do Women Earn Less than Men?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwogDPh-Sow

An interesting discussion on why discrimination is basically non-existent when working the same job, but very apparent in gender and education roles.

Stating the obvious in the Eurocrisis

Europe's motto is "united in diversity", only it seems that most of the countries just want to sell each other out.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="542"] The Independent, Friday 25 May 2012[/caption]

Save the Troy Library "Adventures In Reverse Psychology"

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw3zNNO5gX0&w=640&h=480]

Amusing Ourselves to Death

A Late Analysis of the Russian Presidential Opposition

After protests questioning the authenticity of the election in 2011, changes totalling roughly half a billion dollars to the Russian electoral process were put in place. A live webcam feed of all polling stations shown to as many as half a million independent observers was put in place; election fraudsters from Dagestan to Moscow were caught, but the West was shocked at how Putin still won. However, a look at the candidates may give better context.