Latest blog items
How can the West help Russia modernise?Published 8.12.2009 Much of President Medvedev’s recent address to the Parliament was dedicated to the task of modernisation of Russia. » |
A Birthday Present for PresidentPublished 16.9.2009 The relationship between the two most powerful men in Russia is rather mysterious. Having started their leadership in close mutual alliance, President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin seldom reveal how this alliance works in practice: what are the policy ideas, where do they come from and how are they implemented and if not, why? Certainly one will never know for sure, but at least for the time being, the impression is that the two are looking into the same direction but mainly in order to avoid facing one another. » |
The EU-Russia Summit in Khabarovsk, May 21-22, 2009 (as seen on Twitter)Published 25.5.2009 1 comment(s) This is how the recent EU-Russia summit might have looked like had its participants used the latest social networking utility. Perhaps they do, but what you read here is pure fiction. » |
Moldova’s post-electoral turmoil and EU’s Eastern PartnershipPublished 9.4.2009 Moldova’s situation has even wider significance for the EU. As such it shows that the Eastern Partnership, EU’s new initiative to turn its eastern neighbourhood into the ring of friendly, democratic and prosperous countries, is not going to be easy to implement. The EU can not afford relying on the leaders of these countries as sole guarantors of stability and order. Equally misleading is to keep trust in democratic institutions such as elections. On the other hand, opposition groups should be approached with care, too. » |
Venäjä glamourin aikakauden jälkeenPublished 13.3.2009 1 comment(s) Yksi kummallinen merkki muutoksesta on nähtävissä Venäjän kiiltäväpintaisissa aikakauslehdissä, jotka suosittelevat nyt uusia tyylejä – halpaa, yksinkertaista ja siistiä. Tämä uusi trendi korvaa 2000-luvun hohdokkaan tyylin, joka oli loistoa, kalliita autoja ja merkkituotteita. Taloudellisten koettelemusten aikana italialainen haute couture menettää suosiotaan. Nyt Venäjän keskiluokka opettelee ansaitsemisen ja kuluttamisen sijaan omistamisen ja säästämisen periaatteita. » |
The Gas Dispute as It Is Seen in RussiaPublished 15.1.2009 The gas crisis is being intensively discussed in Russia, particularly in the printed media. Experts look at Gasprom much more critically than during the gas disputes with Ukraine of the previous years. It is not seen as yet another dispute between the two countries but rather a beginning of a different and more complex game. » |
Russia-US: a bit of Cold War and a lot of economic crisisPublished 28.11.2008 1 comment(s) By criticizing the US and exploiting the general dissatisfaction with Bush’s diplomacy in the world, Russia’s diplomats appear to have been achieving remarkable success. Russia’s ability to make alliances in Europe was dependent on the growing feeling of alienation between Europe and the US that has emerged after the war in Iraq. The “new Cold War” is as much a product of the Kremlin as it is of the White House in terms of how the US international behavior is perceived. This is something that often goes unnoticed but should be definitely considered when Russia-Europe-US relations are discussed. » |
The financial crisis and Russia’s capitalismPublished 15.10.2008 1 comment(s) The question is what happens in the future when the crisis is over and the big players – the US, Europe, China – re-emerge with renewed strategies and new economic policies. It can well be that many in Russia will look at the years preceding the crisis with nostalgia, the time when it was possible to reap the benefits of global capitalist system yet at the same time criticize it and build “state capitalism” at home. » |
Russia is not the sole cause of EU's troubles in the neighbourhoodPublished 19.9.2008 The truth is that contrary to the 19th century, when the small states were pawns in the European power politics, today they are active players with tactics and strategies of their own. Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, as well as Central Asian countries are all playing a complex game making alliances, giving false promises to both Russia and Europe, manipulating with energy issues. It appears that the true believers in power politics are the elites in post-Soviet countries even though most of them would deny that. » |
