Addendum: Perspectives on Russia and the US-Russia Relationship
What do we see as we travel around Russia, talking to entrepreneurs, theirparents, their children, journalists, bureaucrats, physicians, dentists, teachers, professors, students; as we visit businesses, offices, schools, universities, NGOs, orphanages and homes; as we walk the streets, ride buses, trains and planes throughout Russia’s regions?
We see a nation of people who, six years ago, were a battered, poor,insecure population. Fast-forwarding to today, we see Russian citizens who walk briskly, wear confident and pleasant faces, and look like they know where they are going, regardless of the time zone they live in. A growing percentage of them travel abroad for annual vacations, dress nicely, drive decent cars, remodel their apartments, enjoy their garden plots, and see a future for themselves. The country, which was totally chaotic, unpredictable and run by oligarchs until 2001 increasingly has laws in place which are building public order and stability and making life worth living. No wonder 70% of Russians support Putin and would vote for him a third term if he would run for office.
What can we say for a nation that was impoverished by oligarchism (not democracy) until 2001, and in this past five year period has paid off the bulk of international debts racked up during the Gorbachev and Yeltsin years, run GDPs in excess of 7%, created a huge “Stabilization Fund” to prevent future financial crises, and decreased poverty from 60% to 30% in a six-year period.
Is Russia a well-run, fully democratic nation? Not by any stretch of the imagination. However, Russian people openly discuss what’s wrong with their country and what needs to be changed. They do this with the belief that, overall, Russia is going in a constructive direction. Considering from whence it has come, I agree.
My questions are the following. What right do we in America have to criticize this nation which within the last 15 years has undergone more radical political, economic and philosophic disruptions and upheaval than any major nation in recorded history? Are they a military threat to us? Do they want to take us over? Are they less democratic than any of the dozens of countries we have partnered with, or still partner with, around the world?
Russia has no bone to pick with America. They just want the time and space to work out their own problems in their own way. Their history, culture and conditioning have been very different from ours. They can’t behave precisely like we do, nor should they be expected to. They can’t react to situations in the same manner we do, nor should they. Considering how immersed in their history they are, they may always choose different ways of governing themselves than we- but as long as it pleases 70% of the population and they have no ill intent toward us, what business is it of ours?
Those of us who take a radically different point of view on Russia from the stereotypes being built today must develop a unified voice to educate the American public on these issues and debate those among us who promote ill will with Russia for their own unacknowledged agendas. Let us discuss how this can be done. I’m very interested in your comments.
Sharon Tennison
President