The divide seems to be growing bigger between the White House and Kremlin, and, to say the least, the evidence of the growing divide is abundant.
During a televised interview, Mr. Putin openly slammed a number of U.S. actions. He asserted that the U.S. was behind the “murder” of Moammar Gaddafi and the recent “unrest” in Russia. Mr. Putin also fulminated against Senator McCain via Twitter messages in response to the Senator's suggestion that the Arab uprising might be catching up with Russia.
His indignation toward the U.S. indicates a grim political and diplomatic outlook – a reincarnation of the Cold War-era relationship between the two super powers. This was not the U.S. and the rest of the world expected to happen, but most importantly, provoking Mr. Putin may not be the right thing to do.
The Uprising
Thousands have gathered in a style reminiscent of the Arab uprising on streets and squares across Russia to display their discontent with and contempt for the government. The premise for the Russian uprising was election fraud, and the target: Vladimir Putin. Calling Mr. Putin and his cronies “rats” and “thieves,” protesters demanded the despotic politician -who has held power over the Kremlin for the last decade - step down.
Ekterina Zatuliveter argued in The Guardian that the uprising in Russia has nothing to do with Mr. Putin. Rather, unfair elections in Russia have finally caught up with the Muscovites. These unfair elections put corrupt officials and oligarchs in the power who have remained indifferent to public needs. And the Russians now are “hurt to the bottom of their hearts.”
Her argument illustrated one side of the equation, but removing Mr. Putin from the other would be unrealistic in the context of the current political climate and the predictability of the result of the upcoming March election.
Alternatives to Mr. Putin
The flamboyant 46-year-old billionaire, Mikhail Prokhorov, has caused a stir among the voters. Aside from his dismal approval ratting (less than 5 percent), there is a concern that he is running only to “make Putin’s seemingly inevitable victory look competitive.” He may even be perceived as more of an American (he owns New Jersey Nets basketball team). This could risk his alienation with the voters.
Another candidate, Grigory Yavlinsky, has been marred by the allegations of falsifying signatures to enter the race. He ran twice before for presidency but never got more than 8 percent of the vote. He is a fledgling political leader and may not have the political strength to run against a powerful Mr. Putin.
Rather than circumventing Mr. Putin, Russians and the rest of the world should dissect a path ahead in the event he is re-elected, and focus on reforms and what he has offered so far to deliver.
Geopolitically, a reformed but stronger Russia would create a more stable balance of power between the East and the West. The U.S. and its Western allies have a lot to gain from a stronger Russia. Its political and economic influences could also undoubtedly help repair the turbulent U.S. relationship with Iran, North Korea, and Pakistan.
Dov Zakheim and Paul Saunders of The New York Times stated that the “United States should expand its cooperation with Russia, which has been playing an increasingly important role in military transit to and from Afghanistan. This would serve as both a hedge and a warning to the generals who control Pakistan.”
Mr. Putin’s tough-guy image would serve him well. Russia needs a leader who would be unwilling to relent to outside pressures and do what is right. After all, dealing with North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan requires unwavering political and diplomatic courage, risk, and skills to achieve winning policies.
The Reform
Mr. Putin’s reform hinges on several factors. First, public entitlements such as pensions and wages must be distributed through effective policies. To do so, Mr. Putin must ensure that government resources are utilized efficiently so as not to put a burden on public to pay for them.
Second, Mr. Putin must ensure that his promises, some of which he made on his election video, are not just pre-election rhetoric. What public wants has become transparent enough through the recent demonstration, and Mr. Putin must fully grasp the magnitude of these protests and deliver on his promises.
Third, Mr. Putin must focus on restoring stability and growth in Russia through transparency and accountability of both public and private sectors. It is a fact that during Mr. Putin’s past tenure as a president, Russia experienced tremendous growth. But if he wins in March, the stability and growth must be translated into trust and relevancy into the hearts and minds of the Russian people.
What Now
Russia is not the Middle East, nor is it North Africa. The uprisings that brought down the authoritarian regimes in these regions are unlikely to be replicated in Russia. The uprisings there had a different set of circumstances. Russians, largely, want to reform their political institutions. The Arabs and the North Africans, on the other hand, want to build theirs completely anew.
As a politician, Mr. Putin’s passion for power may not be uncommon. But he must recognize the source of the power – the people. Cronyism, corruption, and greed of the politicians and those in power had their way with the Russian people. Thousands took to the streets to voice their opinions. They want change.
A reformed Russia is not an option. It is vital to global peace and stability. Mr. Putin must see to it. And he must win the “soul” of the Russian people if he gets re-elected.
Originally from Bangladesh, Iqbal Ahmed is a public policy graduate from George Mason University (GMU), Arlington, VA. He completed a study abroad program at Oxford University, UK in summer 2011 on European Union (EU) policies. He has written for Centre for Research on Globalization, Foreign Policy Journal, Journal of Foreign Relations, Foreign Policy in Focus, Global Politician, and Eurasia Review. Iqbal currently works as a government contractor for the Bureau of Census, but he soon hopes to focus his work on public policy with an emphasis on technology, urban issues, poverty, and governance.
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Vladimir Putin: Soulmate, No More?
February 6, 2012
The divide seems to be growing bigger between the White House and Kremlin, and, to say the least, the evidence of the growing divide is abundant.
During a televised interview, Mr. Putin openly slammed a number of U.S. actions. He asserted that the U.S. was behind the “murder” of Moammar Gaddafi and the recent “unrest” in Russia. Mr. Putin also fulminated against Senator McCain via Twitter messages in response to the Senator's suggestion that the Arab uprising might be catching up with Russia.
His indignation toward the U.S. indicates a grim political and diplomatic outlook – a reincarnation of the Cold War-era relationship between the two super powers. This was not the U.S. and the rest of the world expected to happen, but most importantly, provoking Mr. Putin may not be the right thing to do.
The Uprising
Thousands have gathered in a style reminiscent of the Arab uprising on streets and squares across Russia to display their discontent with and contempt for the government. The premise for the Russian uprising was election fraud, and the target: Vladimir Putin. Calling Mr. Putin and his cronies “rats” and “thieves,” protesters demanded the despotic politician -who has held power over the Kremlin for the last decade - step down.
Ekterina Zatuliveter argued in The Guardian that the uprising in Russia has nothing to do with Mr. Putin. Rather, unfair elections in Russia have finally caught up with the Muscovites. These unfair elections put corrupt officials and oligarchs in the power who have remained indifferent to public needs. And the Russians now are “hurt to the bottom of their hearts.”
Her argument illustrated one side of the equation, but removing Mr. Putin from the other would be unrealistic in the context of the current political climate and the predictability of the result of the upcoming March election.
Alternatives to Mr. Putin
The flamboyant 46-year-old billionaire, Mikhail Prokhorov, has caused a stir among the voters. Aside from his dismal approval ratting (less than 5 percent), there is a concern that he is running only to “make Putin’s seemingly inevitable victory look competitive.” He may even be perceived as more of an American (he owns New Jersey Nets basketball team). This could risk his alienation with the voters.
Another candidate, Grigory Yavlinsky, has been marred by the allegations of falsifying signatures to enter the race. He ran twice before for presidency but never got more than 8 percent of the vote. He is a fledgling political leader and may not have the political strength to run against a powerful Mr. Putin.
Rather than circumventing Mr. Putin, Russians and the rest of the world should dissect a path ahead in the event he is re-elected, and focus on reforms and what he has offered so far to deliver.
Geopolitically, a reformed but stronger Russia would create a more stable balance of power between the East and the West. The U.S. and its Western allies have a lot to gain from a stronger Russia. Its political and economic influences could also undoubtedly help repair the turbulent U.S. relationship with Iran, North Korea, and Pakistan.
Dov Zakheim and Paul Saunders of The New York Times stated that the “United States should expand its cooperation with Russia, which has been playing an increasingly important role in military transit to and from Afghanistan. This would serve as both a hedge and a warning to the generals who control Pakistan.”
Mr. Putin’s tough-guy image would serve him well. Russia needs a leader who would be unwilling to relent to outside pressures and do what is right. After all, dealing with North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan requires unwavering political and diplomatic courage, risk, and skills to achieve winning policies.
The Reform
Mr. Putin’s reform hinges on several factors. First, public entitlements such as pensions and wages must be distributed through effective policies. To do so, Mr. Putin must ensure that government resources are utilized efficiently so as not to put a burden on public to pay for them.
Second, Mr. Putin must ensure that his promises, some of which he made on his election video, are not just pre-election rhetoric. What public wants has become transparent enough through the recent demonstration, and Mr. Putin must fully grasp the magnitude of these protests and deliver on his promises.
Third, Mr. Putin must focus on restoring stability and growth in Russia through transparency and accountability of both public and private sectors. It is a fact that during Mr. Putin’s past tenure as a president, Russia experienced tremendous growth. But if he wins in March, the stability and growth must be translated into trust and relevancy into the hearts and minds of the Russian people.
What Now
Russia is not the Middle East, nor is it North Africa. The uprisings that brought down the authoritarian regimes in these regions are unlikely to be replicated in Russia. The uprisings there had a different set of circumstances. Russians, largely, want to reform their political institutions. The Arabs and the North Africans, on the other hand, want to build theirs completely anew.
As a politician, Mr. Putin’s passion for power may not be uncommon. But he must recognize the source of the power – the people. Cronyism, corruption, and greed of the politicians and those in power had their way with the Russian people. Thousands took to the streets to voice their opinions. They want change.
A reformed Russia is not an option. It is vital to global peace and stability. Mr. Putin must see to it. And he must win the “soul” of the Russian people if he gets re-elected.
Originally from Bangladesh, Iqbal Ahmed is a public policy graduate from George Mason University (GMU), Arlington, VA. He completed a study abroad program at Oxford University, UK in summer 2011 on European Union (EU) policies. He has written for Centre for Research on Globalization, Foreign Policy Journal, Journal of Foreign Relations, Foreign Policy in Focus, Global Politician, and Eurasia Review. Iqbal currently works as a government contractor for the Bureau of Census, but he soon hopes to focus his work on public policy with an emphasis on technology, urban issues, poverty, and governance.
