Analysis - Institute of Modern Russia

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Details: Nation

Two Putins?

One Last Word Before the Elections

Details: 29 February 2012

You can’t keep up with Putin: in one month he publishes six articles, each one the size of a full newspaper page! And combines this with his duties as the Prime Minister of an enormous country… A real Stakhanovite.

Putin and Populism: A Ticking Time-Bomb

Details: Economics

Putin and Populism: A Ticking Time-Bomb

Details: 28 February 2012; Pavel Ivlev

On February 13th, Komsomolskaya Pravda published an article by Vladimir Putin called “Developing Fairness: The Social Welfare State.” In this piece, Putin voiced a number of new promises aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable groups such as public sector employees (doctors, teachers), pensioners, students, and military personnel. According to financial specialists, the proposed plan could cost 5 trillion rubles. The Ministry of Finance gives a smaller estimate, nearly 1 trillion rubles. Whatever the figure, the questions of economic and social reform stand. Without reforms, says IMR Director Pavel Ivlev, the growth of social infrastructure expenses will significantly contribute to macroeconomic instability in Russia.

The Best and Worst of The Semi-Presidential Scenarios

Details: Law

The Best and Worst of The Semi-Presidential Scenarios

Details: 21 February 2012; Ekaterina Mishina

Prof. Ekaterina Mishina compares the implementation of the semipresidential system in Russia, France, and Kyrgyzstan, pointing to the abuses of power that may result from it.

Putin’s Cheat Sheet

Details: Nation

Putin’s Cheat Sheet

Reflections of an Historian

Details: 14 February 2012; Alexander Yanov

In a recent article, Vladimir Putin plagiarized points of a nationalist agenda from a number of sources. Historian Alexander Yanov discusses the lesser-known inspiration for Putin's ideas, 19th century Slavophile thinker Nikolai Danilevsky.

Will the Small Cities of Russia Survive?

Details: Economics

Will the Small Cities of Russia Survive?

Details: 07 February 2012; Irina Suvorova

Russian financial policy expert Irina Suvorova analyzes the situation with small and mid-sized cities in Russia today, criticizing the position voiced by the Minister of Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina at the 2011 Moscow Urban Forum.

HIV/AIDS and TB: IMR Against Social Indifference

Details: Nation

HIV/AIDS and TB: IMR Against Social Indifference

Details: 07 February 2012; Olga Khvostunova

The Institute of Modern Russia is launching an initiative to raise awareness of the disastrous state of affairs with HIV/AIDS and TB in Russia. The irresponsible and inhumane attitude of the Russian government toward the socially vulnerable group suffering from these infectious diseases is among the greatest horrors of the present situation in the country. In most first-world nations, HIV/AIDS and TB have been taken under state control, ceased to be taboo subjects, and have been destigmatized. This is not the case in Russia or the former Soviet republics, where independent observers report that the incidence of TB and HIV/AIDS have reached epidemic levels. But, despite these grim figures, the authorities have not only ignored this problem, but also actively suppress information surrounding it. People are largely unaware that a significant proportion of Russians are TB carriers. In carriers, when the immune system is compromised, for example, if they have HIV, tuberculosis may progress to an acute form very quickly.

No one cares about them

Details: Nation

No one cares about them

HIV/AIDS and TB: IMR Against Social Indifference

Details: 07 February 2012; Olga Khvostunova

In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 190,000 new cases of tuberculosis in Russia. This number is 5-8 times the incidence for most other European nations. In addition, many contract TB because they are not being properly treated for HIV/AIDS. Despite the enormity of these figures, the Russian government and media have yet to address tuberculosis as a critical issue in public health. IMR’s Olga Khvostunova spoke to New York photographer Michael Friedman, who recently completed a series documenting the epidemic in Russia and other CIS countries.

Trial by Jury in Russia: Revival and Survival

Details: Law

Trial by Jury in Russia: Revival and Survival

Details: 25 January 2012; Ekaterina Mishina

Prof. Ekaterina Mishina remembers the 1993 reintroduction of trial by jury, and explains why the jury trials affect the destiny of the still young Russian civil society.

Who is Mr. Navalny?

Details: Politics

Who is Mr. Navalny?

Details: 18 January 2012; Olga Khvostunova

Anyone with even the slightest interest in Russian politics is familiar with the name Alexei Navalny. During Navalny’s relatively short public and political career, he has managed to become the subject of various myths and has been called a social climber, a nationalist, and a populist, among other things. Olga Khvostunova analyzes Alexei Navalny's biography, his interviews and his blog in an attempt to separate myth from reality.

Russia on the Eve of the Fourth Reform

Details: Nation

Russia on the Eve of the Fourth Reform

Details: 17 January 2012; Alexander Yanov

In his address to the new Russian opposition, Prof. Alexander Yanov analyses the lessons of all three Great Russian Reforms, arguing that regional governance should still be considered as an important tool for the implementation of democracy and progress.

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