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1/1/2000 - Russia’s New Millennium by Gregory Feifer

Russia New Millennium By Gregory Feifer January MOSCOW Dense clouds smothering central plains stretch winter The afternoon I returned Russia ception starting rising sodden ground Moscow Sheremyetevo Airport Outside window scrap metal covered concrete behind which thick dotted white birch trees But typically Russian sight industrial waste befouling otherwise pristine rugged landscape alter sense something changed return Inside atmosphere tense usual Perhaps reason foreigners waiting through airport passport control grown double usual length flight forced shuffle through manned agent It because Clinton speech hissed someone behind They Russia Indeed immediately clear simply usual bureaucratic bungling The U S president criticized Russia policy campaign breakaway Caucasus republic Chechnya airport congestion meant West exemplary Soviet views weren appreciated It harder explain another making difficult leading airport remained Presumably Russians there More changes coming By month parliament would Russia Political Players Who Top Who Whom Unity Party Kremlin founded trist party supports Acting Presi Vladimir Putin appointed BorisYeltsin Union Right Wing Forces SPS Bloc liberal young reform headed former Prime Min ister Sergei Kiriyenko initially allied Unity cooperating Yabloko OVR Communist Party Joined Unity after parliamentary elections elect Gennady Seleznev Duma Speaker Fatherland All Russia OVR Center headed Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov Yevgeny Primakov Yabloko Party Social Democratic Refusing Unity theCommunist Party Speaker Sekeznev members stormed Parliament OVR SPS flect realigned balance power country The surprise matched shocker president momentous resignation New Year Eve Out rubble failed opposition election campaigns ensuing About Author Whereas observers Russia West blamed country seeming slide backward reform global tegration failure Russia reformers their Western advisers decade change Russian tudes reflects larger cyclical swing itself rooted turies country lective consciousness So wrote Gregory Feif fellowship application In attempt derstand direction Russian popular political attitudes I propose study current shaping country cultural identity precisely intersec popular artistic culture dominant political culture The traditionally other witness avant garde Revolutionary paganda 1920s 1930s cannot understood without other The recent blossom political science called sition theory applying Russia current transi still bloom In nearly complete inattention might purposeful neglect everyday wholly unlike predecessor kremlinology I would different approach My overarching theme would dynamics continuity change special focus Westernization From Peter Great Westernizing imposed Russian society above As I however circumstance often everything formed country political tural consciousness always transformed something Western clearly Russian maybe uniquely The examples legion Catherine Laws which omitted ements Enlightenment thought Soviet Commu which might dumbfounded Marx E mailing first newsletter Gregory wrote I chose political analysis since I couldn write about Yeltsin resignation appointment Putin probably overshadow everything I write looms aspects Russian I itching field there going Moscow I historic Russia nerve center recriminations towering figure Vladimir Putin Russia wildly popular acting president The steely politician youthful looking years welcome sight Russians stumbling incoher Boris Yeltsin Dour photo which Yeltsin magnanimously handed Kremlin office Putin spoke succinctly confidently projecting image political professionalism The Kremlin public relations machine helped illustrating Putin words footage bouts fellow black belters inevitably Putin appointment politicians political analysts economist journalists around world Russian public large scrambling behind seamless Russia smooth chief executive While temperatures dropped freezing slush taxed balance agile Moscow unshoveled streets I investigate Putin nomenon As information gathering Russia however I quickly found easier catching glimpse capital through winter clouds overhea But showing Putin carrying appointed tasks faultlessly BORIS NIKOLAEVICH BOWS OUT Americans might spectacle humble apologies issued their state chief executives Russian Boris Yeltsin speech national televi early morning December unprec edented sight Not anyone watching New Year Russia Christmas those sleeping lennium mother frantically running whatever stores remained minute presents Even treated selves bottle Sovetskaya Soviet Champagne cream I forgiveness dreams never slurred bloated looking Yeltsin I forgiveness having failed stagnant totalitarian clear civilized future Following speech state television stations beloved Soviet films reinforce sense nothing unusual happened spite momentous change It smacked Communist Party tactics during attempted films shown idyllic scenes swans paddling around peppered ponds forced politically brilliant resignation which Putin almost inevitable Most politicians capital Media outlets GF tained skeleton staffs anticipating weeks which national vodka consumption boosted U S retail sales after Thanksgiving Wire vices desperately pasted Yeltsin obituar written during several years By evening however airwaves abuzz opinions I believe Muscovite Vladimir Sokolov driver I But A Moscow poster featuring image Yuri Dolgorukii supposed century founder echoes theme popular politicians We Resurrect Russia It Common Goal Stalin erected pictured statue Dolgorukii whose image powerful Moscow mayor likes dress In background stands crisis stricken Duma lower house parliament surprise quickly Oh Putin better Yeltsin How celebrating tonight That reaction typified others I encountered echoing sentiment produced tapping Yevgeny Primakov prime minister little But fickle voting public abandoned sights firmly Putin Yeltsin brought about chaos precisely chaos Russian dictatorship Moscow skyline Kremlin features domes Manezh shopping controversial Christ Savior Cathedral background structures symbolized Communist rebirth A statue St George Slaying Dragon Moscow symbol adorns domes glorifying Mayor Luzhov opponent Putin respected political analyst Sergei Markov director Moscow Center Political Studies I spoke several after resignation In sense arrival pragmatic seeming politician Vladimir Putin oriented toward strengthening democratic stitutions minimizes chaos future dictatorship Americans doing business Russia upbeat It means stability Frank Mosier partner Renaissance Capital Russia powerful homespun investment New Year Should pened Primakov sometime guest honor Renaissance lavish Moscow banquets Putin widely billed Russia president As change concerned Mosier right The Russian stock market New Year continued trend ON THE BANDWAGON What Russia politicians think Their playing field after altered Putin incumbency since elections Constitution dictated would March rather June originally scheduled Those Unity Party ecstatic The organiza recently pathetic having cobbled together three months earlier Yeltsin advisers counteract overwhelming popular Fatherland All Russia OVR alliance That powerful Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov popular Primakov Kremlin bitter enemies seemed presidency But Luzhkov Primakov counted Kremlin influence state controlled media outlets through which proceeded smear opponents exceptional By parliamentary elections place De cember Unity ratings flying Putin publicly approved party himself ingly popular rhetoric backing Moscow brutal breakaway North Caucasus republic Chechnya Unity swept parliament percent wrecking OVR political hopes Allied Unity Union Right Wing Forces SPS alliance liberal reformers former Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko They ecstatic having received unexpected percent seeming mandate reform Almost everyone OVR followed shortly after In early January public citizens initiative group nominated Putin candidate March presidential election There little public affair Moscow prestigious exclusive Presi Hotel closed reporters those working state RTR television network The powerful gional governors backed OVR there theater directors doctors other celebrities kinds I Putin resurrect great Russian dustry befits great power Yevgeny Mironov GF Visitors Russia striking number elderly forced themselves streets Pensioners often receive their pittance pensions while Russians income dropped percent grueling before The average monthly amounted rubles U S December ruble terms December making struggle survive alone enjoy benefits reform Putin promised pension hikes around percent January popular actor sheepishly explain strange meeting It seemed every problem every sphere mighty Putin could provide solution A sonality quickly springing around A TUMULTUOUS YEAR On surface dramatic shift toward Puti December reflected growing attitude among populace desire strong state capable battling country rampant lawlessness restoring Russia dignity abroad The country undergone years economic decline while widespread earnest efforts build market economy little effect people lives worse Gleaming Mercedes BMWs zipping Moscow haute cuisine restaurants Gold Gym Christian Dior trumpet success nority insiders through appropriation Soviet state assets But existence impoverished millions pensioners state workers example months without being growing result You westerners plundered country every thing acquaintance recently widespread belief blame Russia And think America really landed World War II believe propaganda woman added Inside Manezh shopping adjacent Red Square completed western style shops chiefly Moscow their mobile phones browse clothes bitterly harking Soviet version history After almost decade looking West economic political advice Russians demoralized yearn continuity achievements They despite current troubles Russia somehow superior West NATO bombing Kosovo swelled feeling triggered public outrage westernism The U S right Serbia cially since everyone knows Kosovo Albanians smugglers criminals general They deserved Katya Larina another young woman nalist whose perceptive insights Russia politics I admired It against background several apartment building explosions rocked Russia August killing around people causing increasing public demand clamor strong action government Putin promptly responded blaming blasts ratist militants southern republic Chechnya despite complete proof His rhetoric seemed prompt Moscow begin military campaign Sep tember eliminating called terror bandits With Putin restore Russians feelings dignity after decade economic catastrophe political corruption And reaped benefits Putin inherits sparkling newly renovated Kremlin Contracts rebuilding Swiss Mabetex which allegedly supplied considerable bribes members Yeltsin family The scandal plagued decade administration approval ratings percent prime minister The ratings continued climb after New Year though another former prime minister Sergei Stepashin January Russia planned attack Chechnya after apartment bombings early spring NO LACK OF SUPPORT Immediately following Yeltsin resignation western observers decried undemocratic decision influenced allegations massive corruption against president recent months Yeltsin reportedly looking assurances family safety before stepping Putin obliged giving immunity resignation But Moscow I pressed anyone question whether meant obviously benefit Kremlin current occupants would weaken devel opment democracy Russia Kiriyenko cherubic eloquent SPS leader gallantly fought Luzhkov corrupt Moscow adminis tration battle City Hall Luz predictably December around percent seemed compromised opposition stance almost irrevocably vociferously supporting Moscow campaign Chechnya wholeheartedly backing Putin Even Communist Party usually harshly critical Kremlin every criticism comprising party political platform toned position later there party already Kremlin upper Duma Ever cynical political analysts reporter I could always depend provide bitter criticism politi cians every stripe thought Putin arrival Russia Markov being chief among Indeed despite Yeltsin seeming rigging election lawfully sense arose course reform derailed during tumultuous catastrophic economic political crises would taken again THE BLACK HOLE While trying I could about Putin myself I struck vastly differing opinions I encountered despite exceptional popularity cause Kiriil Rogov editor Polit influential Website reports style political events happen Polit Rogov It Putin opposition issue rhetoric against someone promises order Russia chaos found All pedagogic analyses Putin about because Putin black about which guess Rogov In fully possible Putin sponge society In sense depend development society sense political situa necessarily Putin himself Rogov first observers I encountered questioned recent developments ramifications It important Russian president carry strict guarantor basic rights freedom economics I those guarantees under Yeltsin under Putin The Moscow Carnegie Center Nikolai Petrov Russia latest political analyst lately quoted Western press invited conferences galore looked askance Putin tapping Putin phenomenon indicator extremely situation which Russian society finds itself Russia accepts within space three months popular leader presidential contender known person nothing recommend solely basis previous series events begin terrorist Russia ending Chechnya THE KNOWN PUTIN Yeltsin appointed Putin unknown bureau headed Federal Security Service FSB cessor KGB premiership August The acting president contributed sense secrecy keeping details about under wraps But known worked East Germany legedly cooperating closely Stasi East Germany dreaded secret police before briefly coming chief deputy St Petersburg liberal reformer mayor Anatoly Sobchak Those critical Putin point career ports super almost certainly blown Testimony seems indicate second operative service prospects there Putin aside school St Petersburg service Yeltsin Security Council short shadowy manager St Petersburg administration little devoted reform After coming Moscow sentially continued KGB activities collect compromising materials about regional leaders state organs about their fulfillment presidential orders before becoming FSB Putin typical deviated worked Sob Petrov Those people Putin dealt St Pe tersburg might illusions market entation Petrov added But opinion neither choices actions speeches allow build The Moscow Carnegie Center Petrov At least other politicians Putin status similar backgrounds could occupied shoes about amount successs illusions about reformer tendencies STRONG STATE OR STRONG OLIGARCHS Putin talked mixing moderate reform strong government combat Russia widespread lawlessness corruption But speeches Russia recent communist bright reformed future Our country Russia great power strong state clear possible strong armed forces powerful armed forces Putin widely quoted appearance before television January Despite recent military setbacks Chechnya increasingly critical press largely Russia nothing short complete military disaster unpopular With loyal media Putin looks overcome defeats field acting tough himself As economy Mikhail Delyagin outspoken youthful economist known predictions gloom Russia future thinks little change running country under certain Putin presidency Delyagin advised Kremlin Putin economic policy likely Kremlin chief strategists those sponsible bringing power Boris Berezovsky Anatoly Chubais Berezovsky called oligarch reputed Kremlin strategist built media empire earlier decade During parliamentary paign newspapers television stations controls despite state majority stakes grilled Luzhkov Primakov unsubstantiated albeit completely unconvincing accusations corruption fraud murder Chubais reformer Russia utility magnate oversaw country privatization which still detested populace The dominance those Russia future Delyagin The acting president economist Berezovsky Chubais proven their inability Russia Since becoming prime minister Putin appointing colleagues posts government agencies affiliated state media That counteract influence groups Russia financial industrial oligarchs Immediately following appointment president Putin fired several Yeltsin advisers distance Yeltsin administra Those sacked cluded Yeltsin daughter Tatyana Dyachenko widely disliked public especially after figure prominently Kremlin corruption allegations Putin appointed reformer technocrats finance economy ministries elevated Finance Min ister Mikhail Kasyanov first deputy premiership That West since Kasyanov spent months renegotiating Russian western creditors trust On whole however Putin colleagues secret services gaining positions across board As effort strengthen state crime fight abilities Putin carrying reforms Russia security services They recreating system Petrov adding Putin emerge control oligarchs police state elected March Petrov almost diametrically opposed Delyagin Putin control strong bureaucracy decisions The oligarchs Both observers however criticize West silently boosting Putin acquiescing rhetoric about policy institution building precisely kinds things Russia vital Chubaises Berezovskys hoping reform carried Concerning relatively liberal market views really based thing Petrov Could there third possibility In debate about whether Putin eternal KGB apparatchik reformer question possible weakness leader rarely raised If Putin chiefly consensus seeker while giving appearance tough leader would allow cealed oligarchy politicians financiers industrialists criminals group broader stable Chubais Berezovsky clans country behind scenes Put would function large cloud blotting sense Moscow political landscape outside Judging speculation currently swirling around Putin probable future Russia elected president might indeed constitute important BATTLES IN THE DUMA Putin elected presidency might tirely smooth sailing His unanimous support faltered toward January Duma first Under ostensibly between Unity Communist Party porcine Communist Gennady Seleznev elected Duma speaker second their majority votes Parliament minority parties which looked forward compromise tirely locked consultations Unity control nearly parliament committees Other parties given handful posts Refusing speaker third chamber deputies OVR SPS liberal oriented Yabloko Party stormed saying could accomplished legislation passed under whiny Seleznev often strongly favor Communist Party initiatives impeaching Yeltsin spring No Moscow questioned accepted notion Kremlin rather Unity Communists Precisely reason agreement Communists meant provocative split Putin reformers Rogov One version Berezovsky orchestrated weaken position Chubais SPS leader Mean while former prime ministers Stepashin Primakov blistering speeches Duma Primakov called total collapse democracy desecration Kiriyenko while criticizing Putin bridges The SPS leader party still backed Putin president although support would conditional Putin carrying reform Kiriyenko knows Putin SPS Duma parties actual platform carry legislation Duma neophyte Unity Party And SPS Putin wants retain early promise having influence reform government The thing reaction Kiriyenko widely watched television evening walkout Not react Kiriyenko added Putin react never really commented Seleznev appointment While seemed gained politically least showing Communists opportunists undercutting their opposi force Kremlin ahead elections lence shows still holding positioning himself politically That maintain broad avoid mistakes until elections In other words still unknown entity likely remain least until March For reason others course Russia political future remains further sight would think always Russia As Soviet Cold War driven attitudes observers still political rhetoric jockeying Winter pushes election season approaches But I forward prospect striking shadow Kremlin politics probe beyond calls politicians their oligarchs versa INDEX A apartment explosions B Berezovsky Boris Center Political Studies Chechnya Christian Dior Chubais Anatoly Communist Party corruption D Delyagin Mikhail Duma speaker Dyachenko Tatyana E economy F Fatherland All Russia OVR Federal Security Service FSB G Gold Gym K Kasyanov Mikhail Kiriyenko Sergei L Larina Katya Luzhkov Yuri M Markov Sergei Mironov Yevgeny Moscow Carnegie Center Mosier Frank N NATO P Petrov Nikolai Polit President Hotel Primakov Yevgeny privatization Putin Vladimir R Renaissance Capital Rogov Kiriil RTR television network S Seleznev Gennady Sobchak Anatoly Stepashin Sergei U Union Right Wing Forces SPS Unity Unity Party Y Yabloko Party Yeltsin Boris Entries refer ICWA Letter GF Letter number given before entry Fellows their Activities EUROPE RUSSIA Adam Smith Albion Uzbekistan A former research associate Institute EastWest Studies Prague Czech Republic Adam studying writing about republics Central Asia their importance actors within without forme Soviet A Harvard graduate History Adam completed first M Litt Degree Russian East European history languages Oxford University Gregory Feifer Russia With fluent Russian Master Harvard Gregory worked Moscow political editor Agence France Presse weekly Russia Journal Greg Russia latest failures economic political reform continua failed attempts Westernization began Peter Great failures succession behind scenes elites Russia behind mythic facade strong rulers centuries He plans assess continuation these cultural underpinnings Russian governance Gorbachev Yeltsin succession Whitney Mason Turkey A freelance print television journalist Whit began career founding newspaper called The Siberian Review Novosibirsk worked editor Vladivostok News Asiaweek magazine Hong Kong In switched radio video journalism working Bosnia Korea CBS As ICWA Fellow studying writing about Turkey nexus between East West between traditional secular Islam Jean Beno Nadeau France A French Canadian journalist playwright Jean Beno studied drama National Theater School Montreal received B A McGill University Political Science History The holder several Canadian magazine investi gative journalism awards spending ICWA fellowship years France studying resistance French trend economic cultural globalization SOUTH ASIA Shelly Renae Browning Australia A surgeon specializing hearing Dr Browning studying approaches traditional healers among Ab origines Australia indigenous peoples Vanuatu hearing problems She B S Chemistry University Sou studied physician patient tionships China Australia Thomas J Watson Fel lowship M D Emory University Atlanta Before ICWA fellowship Fellow Skull Base Surgery Montreal McGill University Department Otolaryngology SAHARA Marc Michaelson Ethiopia A program manager Save Children The Gambia Marc moved across Africa Horn there assess nation building Eritrea Ethiopia conditions permit availing unavailing humanitarian efforts northern Somalia southern Sudan With B A political science Tufts degree study London School Economics Master International Peace Studies Notre Dame describes postgraduate years seven years experience international development programming peace research THE AMERICAS Wendy Call Mexico A Healthy Societies Fellow Wendy spending years Mexico Isthmus Tehuantepec immersed radictory trends attempt industrialize develop along proposed Caribbean Pacific containerized railway desire indigenous peoples preserve their Mexico remaining growth forests With B A Biology Oberlin Wendy worked communica tions coordinator Grassroots International national paign director Infact corporate accountability organization Paige Evans Cuba A playwright former Literary Manager Manhattan Theatre Club New York City Paige looking Cuba through performing With History Literature B A Harvard served counselor Buckhorn Children Center Buckhorn Kentucky Arts Edi International Courier Rome Italy adjunct professor teaching course Contemporary Ameri Playwrights New York University She joined Manhat Theatre Club Peter Keller Chile Public affairs fficer Redwood National Park planner atYosemite National Park before fellowship Peter holds B S Recreation Resource Management University Montana Masters Environmental Law Ver Law School As John Miller Musser Memorial Forest Society Fellow spending years Chile Argentina comparing operations parks forest reserves controlled Chilean Argentine governments those controlled private persons governmental organizations Susan Sterner Brazil A staff photographer Associated Press Los Ange Susan received B A International Studies Cul tural Anthropology Emory University Master Latin American Studies Vanderbilt AP ranging assignments Haiti Mexico along U S Mexi border Her fellowship topic lives status Brazil women Tyrone Turner Brazil A photojournalist Black Star whose appeared U S newspapers magazines Tyrone holds Master degree Government Latin American politics Georgetown University produced photo essays youth violence New Orleans genocide Rwanda mining Indonesia As Institute Fellow photographing about Brazilian youth S Paulo industrial South Recife Salvador Northeast ICWA Letters ISSN published Institute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters provided charge members ICWA available libraries professional researchers subscription Phone E Mail ICWA valley Fax Web Site Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Administrator Gary L Hansen Publications Manager Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Roge Foundation The information contained publication reproduced without writer permission GF Author Feifer Gregory Title ICWA Letters Europe Russia ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language English Frequency Monthly Other Regions East Asia South Asia Mideast North Africa The Americas Sub Saharan Africa Institute Fellows chosen basis character previous experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows required report their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis periodic assessment international events issues Institute Current World Affairs THE CRANE ROGERS FOUNDATION Four West Wheelock Street Hano New Hampshire 03755 USA