While Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has shown no signs of being willing to leave power after the 2012 presidential elections, it looks increasingly like there will be no role for President Dmitry Medvedev in the post-election era.
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 ushered in a time of momentous social and political change, including in Russia, but Russia’s development followed a different path than that of many Eastern European countries.
Afghanistan has eclipsed Iraq as the focus of U.S. military efforts, a sign of the country’s importance as well as the urgent need to bring resolution to the conflict.
Osama bin Laden’s death will not immediately deal a fatal blow to Islamic extremism, but it could potentially help to improve the situation in Afghanistan.
Although Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is aware of the serious problems facing Russia, his address to the State Duma ignored Russia’s existing challenges and instead offered grand promises for the future with the apparent aim of positioning himself for the 2012 presidential elections.
Russia faces a range of challenges as it attempts to modernize and effectively use its power on the global stage in the coming decade.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s announcement of new initiatives for improving the investment climate in Russia and reducing corruption demonstrates his readiness to run for a second term.
While Russians are increasingly calling for political reforms, the high price of oil allows the Kremlin to increase social spending and avert broad public discontent for a while longer.
Modernization is one of the Kremlin’s stated priorities, but Russia faces a number of challenges as it seeks to modernize its economic and political processes.
The Russian authorities maintain a monopoly on political power and governance, and although there has been some movement in Russian civil society toward community building and activism, this activity remains fragmented and localized.