From USSR to Russia Today

Almost 17 years passed since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and yet most people have no real clue how and why it happened. Nor do they suspect that the past 17 years leading to what Russia has become today, were all rooted to early 1980’s and the infamous Yurii Andropov, the longest serving chief of the KGB (1967-1982), and later a General-Secretary of the Politburo of the KPSS.

I will not go in details here, but will try to provide a short and general description of the whole process.

In 1980 Andropov under his own order received 10 independent analysis reports about the future of the USSR. All of them conclude the inevitable economic collapse of the economic and thus also the political system. Based on those news, Andropov with few individuals (almost all of them KGB, but also CIA operatives) draw up a plan, (which he signs before his death) to basically “dismantle” the existing political-economic system in the USSR and replace it with wild capitalism, which was aimed to discourage the Russian people from democracy and free market economy, and later use this as the fundamental to build up a new “modern socialism.”

Since the plan was radical to say the least, and could not have been officially implemented, Andropov and company recruited different individuals from the KGB, the party nomenclature and army to carry out this plan. From the information available today, it seems that while still alive Andropov personally met and instructed these individuals, no matter how low they stood in the hierarchy. The dismantling process was planned to take 10 years plus minus 2, and M. Gorbachev was chosen to be the last general-secretary to carry it out.

As we know now, the plan was carried out pretty much as planned, and only few unexpected events took place, with which the chosen people dealt with accordingly, thus assuring the successful result of it. The people in charge were also smart enough to use their “official” enemies US and Western Europe, to get even more money for doing what they were doing anyway. The US on the other hand, despite all the popular reports about the CIA plan to dismantle Russia into 10 or so smaller countries, did not want that for the two simple reasons: 1) it was easier to control and insure that no world nuclear catastrophe takes place involving the massive nuclear arsenal of the ex-USSR, in post Soviet Russia and 2) strong Russia was and still is needed as a counter balance to the US, thus insuring the survival of the US as a dominant world power (or empire if you wish).

Here the interests of the ex-Soviet elite and the US matched and they managed to sustain the unity of Russia, through the Yeltsin period, which was the period of the planned disillusionment of the people of democracy and capitalism.

Many political scientists in their criticism of Russian politics during the 1990’s forget that the opposition in Russia then was not the powers striving for democracy, but those striving for return of the old system and the resurrection of the USSR. These were powers made up of lower ranking nomenclature people, who were never informed about the whole plan, and in 1991 found out that they were unemployed. These were the people who stood behind the two unsuccessful tries to take power by coups d'état, in 1991 and 1993.

The era of introducing the “modern socialism” in Russia began with Putin coming to power in 2000. Ever since, he and his team (although to be correct, the team is not his, but he is part of the team) managed to stabilize the country, the economy, and to insure their being in power at least for the next eight years, now that Medvedev succeeded Putin as Russia’s president.

What is next for Russia?

Nothing spectacular, Russia is to become (already is in fact) the balancing world power, which the US needs as much. So, the recent reintroductions of military patrols by the Russian military forces, and the renewed show of muscles by Russia is very much needed and expected, as Russia’s role of a balancing power, which by the way also serves for strengthening the feeling of pride among the Russians, and thus unity and greater support for their government.

Why not western style democracy in Russia?

The ruling elite in Russia, and some of the foreigners who helped them, seem to believe that historically the Russian people always fought their rulers and their rulers always fought them back. The reason behind is explained with the pre-Russian state of social order among the Slavic people, who lived in harmony without a king. Thus, when it was introduced it sparked a constant “internal war” in Russia. How much of this is true, and how much of it is being used by those who rule Russia to keep their autocratic manner of power is unclear, but is certainly clear that it prevented a serious try to introduce a western style democracy in Russia after the collapse of the USSR.

What is the Conclusion?

I believe that we should stop constantly insisting from the Russians to adopt our system, and our version of democracy, which is dubious enough, but since a better alternative does not exist so far, we take it for granted! Most westerners do not understand the Russians, and have no clue of their traditions and beliefs, which by the way do not go hand in hand with ours!!! Nevertheless, the Russians have their right to choose the way they live, and today this is very much true, despite the critics from us about suppression of opposition and questionable election results in Russia. I would say, that by the next elections, provided that the government continues its current line of investment in the country and improvement of the standard of living of its citizens, it will not need to suppress anyone, since the majority of the people will vote for them anyway, due to the positive results they would experience in their private lives.

Besides, Russia today is very much a sovereign country both economically and politically, and most of all is an irreplaceable partner of the EU, especially as an energy provider. So, why bother business with useless political criticism? I mean, when was the last time anyone criticized the UAE for their lack of democracy, for example?