Could Russia actually exist as a viable Republic / representative democracy?

[AshG]

I know I'm still relatively young, but I remember the days of Gorbachev and Glasnost and the splintering of the Soviet Union. I remember the concerns about former KGB agents working into the government there and spoiling the opportunity of a young democratic republic from blossoming. Then came the increased mafia control and influence, oligarchs and business blocs, and Boris "My blood type is Stolichnaya" Yeltsin.

Assuming Putin has gone mad and/or finds himself removed from his position, do the Russian citizens have the wherewithal to do the work to actually take over and run their country? Are we going to have to deal with Russia as a wildcard for decades to come?

 

[golfballs]

Once Genghis Khan conquered them they became damaged goods. Never recovered

 

[Pepe_Silvia]

They'd have to put down the bottle of vodka first.

 

[EasternVol]

I know I'm still relatively young, but I remember the days of Gorbachev and Glasnost and the splintering of the Soviet Union. I remember the concerns about former KGB agents working into the government there and spoiling the opportunity of a young democratic republic from blossoming. Then came the increased mafia control and influence, oligarchs and business blocs, and Boris "My blood type is Stolichnaya" Yeltsin.

Assuming Putin has gone mad and/or finds himself removed from his position, do the Russian citizens have the wherewithal to do the work to actually take over and run their country? Are we going to have to deal with Russia as a wildcard for decades to come?

Sure, any country can at least for a while if the constitution is in place. But military coups, wars, etc. tend to wreck young democracies.
By 'former KGB agents working into the government there' do you mean Vlad Putin?

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

half of russia has been subjugated and brain washed, but there is a large number of good russian people. They have tried to remove Putin several times and were not able to, but if given a chance they will have learned from past mistakes like germany. We have to let democracy do it's thing, and let the people hold open and free elections. They have been subjugated and fed lies for a very long time. It will take healing.

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

If we are being flat out honest America will some healing of it's to do after this. Putin damn near infested 1/3 of our government.

 

[landscapingvol]

I know I'm still relatively young, but I remember the days of Gorbachev and Glasnost and the splintering of the Soviet Union. I remember the concerns about former KGB agents working into the government there and spoiling the opportunity of a young democratic republic from blossoming. Then came the increased mafia control and influence, oligarchs and business blocs, and Boris "My blood type is Stolichnaya" Yeltsin.

Assuming Putin has gone mad and/or finds himself removed from his position, do the Russian citizens have the wherewithal to do the work to actually take over and run their country? Are we going to have to deal with Russia as a wildcard for decades to come?

They have never really been one in their entire existence as a territory but yes they could but it would take decades to adjust to and establish. Yes, we are going to have to deal with them for decades to come but this could be Putin’s Chernobyl if it goes badly in Ukraine.

 

[NorthDallas40]

Not while the Soviet holdovers exist. Gonna take another 20 or 30 years and that assumes they don’t pass on their Soviet ******** ideology which isn’t very likely I’d guess. Some will rise to the cause just like in every case like it in history.

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

The Russian people are openly protesting Putin's war and being arrested rn. They have been all night. This is not the first, or second, or third time they have defied Putin. They will suffer consequences. 150 of Putins government officials have signed a petition. His soldiers are tired of dying and reportedly surrendering. These people have been through hell. They know what they are looking at. Give them a chance.

 

[tvolsfan]

It hurts that they have no real democratic tradition, but of course they can

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

I guess I'm lucky enough to have seen it, but russia was not always our enemy. They had a brief window before Putin. Putin was installed, and he killed everything he touched from then on out. Dictator from start to finish. Russia had elections at one point. Experience is probably my asset rn.

 

[tvolsfan]

I guess I'm lucky enough to have seen it, but russia was not always our enemy. They had a brief window before Putin. Putin was installed, and he killed everything he touched from then on out. Dictator from start to finish. Russia had elections at one point. Experience is probably my asset rn.

Yes, but Russia was hardly functioning in the 90’s. It’s why so many turned to Putin and still approve of him.

 

[Sandman 423]

If we are being flat out honest America will some healing of it's to do after this. Putin damn near infested 1/3 of our government.

How honest are we talking?

 

[lukeneyland]

Democracies everywhere seem to be failing. Look at Canada, look at our government, I’m not so sure that democracies are viable for more than a few hundred years. We still tyrant have “kings”, we just call them by different names

 

[happy-go_vol]

Sure, any country can at least for a while if the constitution is in place. But military coups, wars, etc. tend to wreck young democracies.
By 'former KGB agents working into the government there' do you mean Vlad Putin?

Yeah, our republic is breaking apart by such the same type agents in our gov

 

[Matt2496]

I know I'm still relatively young, but I remember the days of Gorbachev and Glasnost and the splintering of the Soviet Union. I remember the concerns about former KGB agents working into the government there and spoiling the opportunity of a young democratic republic from blossoming. Then came the increased mafia control and influence, oligarchs and business blocs, and Boris "My blood type is Stolichnaya" Yeltsin.

Assuming Putin has gone mad and/or finds himself removed from his position, do the Russian citizens have the wherewithal to do the work to actually take over and run their country? Are we going to have to deal with Russia as a wildcard for decades to come?

As long as Putin has the military and police force on his side, nothing can stop him. It would require a military coup for him to be ousted.

Also, it's ingrained in Russia's culture to be led by totalitarians. As soon as you topple Putin's regime, a new dictator will emerge.

 

[happy-go_vol]

Democracies everywhere seem to be failing. Look at Canada, look at our government, I’m not so sure that democracies are viable for more than a few hundred years. We still tyrant have “kings”, we just call them by different names

With no virtue or morality, no democracy can stand. We're living proof

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

Ukraine war: Russians turn on Putin as Kremlin threatens to jail 'traitors' who try to help Ukraine | Daily Mail Online

 

[Gandalf]

Dont think so - it might look like one but if Putin is shoved out, it will not be by "democratic forces" IMO, it will be by fellow oligarchs, the new version of Boyars, who will fill his position with a new one.

 

[n_huffhines]

I know I'm still relatively young, but I remember the days of Gorbachev and Glasnost and the splintering of the Soviet Union. I remember the concerns about former KGB agents working into the government there and spoiling the opportunity of a young democratic republic from blossoming. Then came the increased mafia control and influence, oligarchs and business blocs, and Boris "My blood type is Stolichnaya" Yeltsin.

Assuming Putin has gone mad and/or finds himself removed from his position, do the Russian citizens have the wherewithal to do the work to actually take over and run their country? Are we going to have to deal with Russia as a wildcard for decades to come?

The solution to any despotic country is strengthening property rights. Things kind of fall into place if you have strong property rights. Any country CAN make this change and be better in this regard, but will they?

 

[DC_Vol]

I know I'm still relatively young, but I remember the days of Gorbachev and Glasnost and the splintering of the Soviet Union. I remember the concerns about former KGB agents working into the government there and spoiling the opportunity of a young democratic republic from blossoming. Then came the increased mafia control and influence, oligarchs and business blocs, and Boris "My blood type is Stolichnaya" Yeltsin.

Assuming Putin has gone mad and/or finds himself removed from his position, do the Russian citizens have the wherewithal to do the work to actually take over and run their country? Are we going to have to deal with Russia as a wildcard for decades to come?

It will be very difficult. Even a change in leadership via election will not make it possible. There are too many oligarchs with interests tied to the current system. It would take a revolution.

 

[DC_Vol]

Democracies everywhere seem to be failing. Look at Canada, look at our government, I’m not so sure that democracies are viable for more than a few hundred years. We still tyrant have “kings”, we just call them by different names

We also have our own oligarchs. And some of them double as politicians.

 

[lukeneyland]

We also have our own oligarchs. And some of them double as politicians.

Most of them do, I find the hand wringing about how immoral Russian businessman are pretty hilarious. Germans were buying oil and feeding the Russian war machine, but oligarchs!

 

[Velo Vol]

It hurts that they have no real democratic tradition, but of course they can

Old habits die hard. They need one, maybe two, generations to pass to distance themselves from the Soviet era.

 

[DC_Vol]

Most of them do, I find the hand wringing about how immoral Russian businessman are pretty hilarious. Germans were buying oil and feeding the Russian war machine, but oligarchs!

My point was they are too invested in the current system for any meaningful change. Much like the United States.