Russia's Privileged Class Rises Up

{
  "authors": [
    "Matthew Rojansky"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "russia",
  "programs": [
    "Russia and Eurasia"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Caucasus",
    "Russia"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform"
  ]
}

In The Media

Russia's Privileged Class Rises Up

Fed up with a closed political system dominated by one man, Russia’s privileged class has taken to the streets to protest against Putin’s regime.

By Matthew Rojansky

Published on Dec 26, 2011

Source: To the Point

In an interview with Warren Olney on To the Point, Carnegie’s Matthew Rojansky argued that anti-government protests in Moscow and the rise of political activism in Russia represent a major break from what has been a “very cynical and very detached political culture.” Many Russian citizens—including the privileged class—are frustrated with pervasive corruption, election fraud, and Putin’s blatant attempt to hold onto power and are now taking to the streets. These protests, however, do not signal the end of Putin’s Russia, Rojansky contended. Given that the “Russian people remain, broadly speaking, sort of comfortable and tolerant of authoritarianism,” he concluded that the centralized political system Putin has created will likely remain in place.

About the Author

Matthew Rojansky

Former Deputy Director, Russia and Eurasia Program

Rojansky, formerly executive director of the Partnership for a Secure America, is an expert on U.S. and Russian national security and nuclear-weapon policies.

Recent Work

Paper
An Opportunity for Ambition: Ukraine’s OSCE Chairmanship
- Matthew Rojansky
In The Media
Presiding Over the OSCE: Challenges and Opportunities
- Matthew Rojansky

Political Reform Caucasus Russia

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary
Diwan
The Gulf Conflict and the South Caucasus
In an interview, Sergei Melkonian discusses Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s careful balancing act among the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Armenak Tokmajyan
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Why Has Kazakhstan Started Deporting Political Activists?
The current U.S. indifference to human rights means Astana no longer has any incentive to refuse extradition requests from its authoritarian neighbors—including Russia.
Temur Umarov
Commentary
Emissary
Iran’s Northern Neighbors Are Facing Fallout From the War, Too
The conflict is threatening stability in Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Zaur Shiriyev
Commentary
Strategic Europe
Taking the Pulse: Is France’s New Nuclear Doctrine Ambitious Enough?
French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled his country’s new nuclear doctrine. Are the changes he has made enough to reassure France’s European partners in the current geopolitical context?
Rym Momtaz, ed.
Commentary
Strategic Europe
The EU Needs a Third Way in Iran
European reactions to the war in Iran have lost sight of wider political dynamics. The EU must position itself for the next phase of the crisis without giving up on its principles.
Richard Youngs

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary

Diwan

The Gulf Conflict and the South Caucasus

In an interview, Sergei Melkonian discusses Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s careful balancing act among the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Armenak Tokmajyan

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Why Has Kazakhstan Started Deporting Political Activists?

The current U.S. indifference to human rights means Astana no longer has any incentive to refuse extradition requests from its authoritarian neighbors—including Russia.

Temur Umarov

Commentary

Emissary

Iran’s Northern Neighbors Are Facing Fallout From the War, Too

The conflict is threatening stability in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Zaur Shiriyev

Commentary

Strategic Europe

Taking the Pulse: Is France’s New Nuclear Doctrine Ambitious Enough?

French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled his country’s new nuclear doctrine. Are the changes he has made enough to reassure France’s European partners in the current geopolitical context?

Rym Momtaz, ed.

Commentary

Strategic Europe

The EU Needs a Third Way in Iran

European reactions to the war in Iran have lost sight of wider political dynamics. The EU must position itself for the next phase of the crisis without giving up on its principles.

Richard Youngs