A Trip to the Old Country: The Moral and Political Situation in Russia Today

Speaking at a recent Kennan Institute lecture, Igor Birman, a Washington, D.C. independent scholar, gave his assessment of politics, governance, and democracy in Russia. According to Birman, Russia's future is endangered by political and moral problems, despite sustained economic growth driven largely by Russia's exports of natural gas and oil.

Birman outlined the political and administrative system under President Vladimir Putin. Power is centralized, and government authorities are interested in the stability of the current political system at any price, he said. Revenue from the sale of oil and natural gas supports this stability, Birman noted. Dissent is stifled, as those who disagree are marginalized, and there are very few alternative political forces, he said.

A major problem for the Russian state is the size and overwhelming power of the bureaucracy, which has expanded to at least twice its size during the Soviet period. The tax system is extremely corrupt, stated Birman, estimating that the black market comprises no less than 40 percent of the economy. A good example of what to expect from Russia is a system similar to that which existed in Argentina under General Peron, Birman said.

Birman criticized the moral and intellectual level of contemporary Russian society. Bribery and cheating on exams are commonplace in Russia, Birman said, rendering the high quality of Russian education a myth. Alcohol abuse, particularly of vodka, is at catastrophic levels and is connected with the falling life expectancy of Russian males. Finally, the court system and the police are terribly corrupt, he said, with many crimes—especially high-profile murders—going unsolved.

In his final comments, Birman criticized Russian foreign policy for maintaining close relations with unsavory governments, such as Belarus, Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran. He also called it an "unjustifiable decision" to allow Russia to be part of the G-8 group of advanced democracies.