Russia in Global Affairs

It is difficult to imagine how a country that has a huge and ethnically diverse population that does not feel united can experience stable development. Russia has not been “Soviet” for a long time and is gradually becoming an increasingly non-Russian country; however, the governing officials often behave as if they do not see the tectonic shifts that spark open conflicts and clashes.

The pattern of informal regulation of the relationship between the federal center and constituent territories that has been adopted in Russia now is reminiscent of a decaying ancient Rome that did not feel squeamish about handing over border provinces to barbarian federates.

The sweeping economic depression in the Caucasian territories has caused a rapid process of latent separation: the population is developing a steady estrangement from the state power and the rest of the country while simulating superficial loyalty to it.