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Weimar Russia? Why Post-Soviet Authoritarianism Did Not Turn Fascist

The speaker will compare inter-war Germany and post-communist Russia, and compare both nations’ very different political paths. Like in Weimar Germany, in today’s Russia, fascist actors are present, and nationalism is widespread in the population. The post-Soviet Russian situation is, however, distinct from the inter-war German one in that the party system is heavily manipulated and the third sector remains underdeveloped. Fascists have thus neither had a chance to use elections nor did they have the opportunity to penetrate civil society in order to build up political support. The continuing presence of a resolutely authoritarian, yet non-fascist "national leader" (Vladimir Putin) is a hindrance for the country to become a liberal democracy, but makes it, for the time being, also improbable that the Russian regime will transgress towards fascism.

Date & Time

Tuesday
Nov. 15, 2011
3:30pm – 5:30pm ET

Location

6th Floor, Woodrow Wilson Center
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Overview

The speaker will compare inter-war Germany and post-communist Russia, and compare both nations’ very different political paths. Like in Weimar Germany, in today’s Russia, fascist actors are present, and nationalism is widespread in the population. The post-Soviet Russian situation is, however, distinct from the inter-war German one in that the party system is heavily manipulated and the third sector remains underdeveloped. Fascists have thus neither had a chance to use elections nor did they have the opportunity to penetrate civil society in order to build up political support. The continuing presence of a resolutely authoritarian, yet non-fascist "national leader" (Vladimir Putin) is a hindrance for the country to become a liberal democracy, but makes it, for the time being, also improbable that the Russian regime will transgress towards fascism.

The talk is based on an article co-authored by Steffen Kailitz, Research Fellow, Hannah Arendt Institute for the Study of Totalitarianism, Dresden University of Technology. To read the article, please click here:

http://ku-eichstaett.academia.edu/AndreasUmland/Papers/235639/Why_the_Fascists_Wont_Take_Over_the_Kremlin_for_Now_A_Comparison_of_Democracys_Breakdown_and_Fascisms_Rise_in_Weimar_Germany_and_Post-Soviet_Russia
 

Please note that seating for this event is available on a first come, first served basis-no reservations required. Please call on the day of the event to confirm. Please bring an identification card with a photograph (e.g. driver's license, work ID, or university ID) as part of the building's security procedures.

The Kennan Institute speaker series is made possible through the generous support of the Title VIII Program of the U.S. Department of State.

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Speaker

Andreas Umland

Former Short-Term Grant;
Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, Kyiv
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Hosted By

Kennan Institute

The Kennan Institute is the premier US center for advanced research on Russia and Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute is committed to improving American understanding of Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the surrounding region though research and exchange.  Read more

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