Putin -- The Great Dictator?
"Capitalism With a Stalinist Face"
November 4, 2003
By Toby Westerman
Copyright 2003 International News Analysis Today
www.inatoday.com
Already condemned as a "predator" by the free press advocacy group Reporters Without Borders, Russian President Vladimir Putin has aroused anxious speculation in many quarters in Europe that he is becoming a virtual dictator. One Russian politician points to "capitalism with a Stalinist face" arising in Russia.
Most of the American press, and even conservative talk radio, is taking little heed of Russia's descent into authoritarianism, even though Russia is America's close ally in the war on terror and mentioned as a prime source of U.S. oil. Official U.S. policy toward Russia is that of a trusted friend, especially after U.S. President George Bush peered into Putin's soul.
Despite claims of a "new" Russia, much of Russian political and business affairs remains "obscure," while power continues to concentrate in the hands of Putin, an "ultra-authoritarian," according to a recent article in the French news daily, Le Monde.
Putin's willingness to arrest and prosecute -- with doubtful justification -- extremely rich and powerful business leaders, known as "oligarchs," has caused alarm in European commercial circles.
"All power" belongs to the Kremlin, declared the German daily, Die Welt, which cited a Russian politician's fears of Russia's economy becoming "capitalism with a Stalinist face."
One political analyst sees a stark change in Putin's rule, and divides recent Russian history into the "first" and "second" Putin Republic.
"We live in the second Putin Republic," declared Andrei Piontkovski, Director of the Moscow-based Center for Strategic Studies, and cited by Die Welt.
In the 'first republic,' a balance existed between those who supported the economic policies of Boris Yeltsin and those opposing them. In the 'second republic,' the balance has disappeared, replaced by "a strengthening of the authoritative character of the Regime," Piontkovski stated.
The key element in Putin's increasing authoritarianism is his reliance upon the military and, to an even greater extent, upon Russia's internal security operatives - the secret police of the Communist era. Putin himself was a KGB colonel. Most of Putin's staff is either from the armed forces or from the internal spy network.
Piontkovski, however, predicts disaster for Russia, and possibly even for Putin.
"The suppression of freedom of speech and the control of political life will increase," with the economic collapse of Russia occurring "in two years," warned Piontkovski.
Putin's future may also be in doubt.
There may come a time when Putin's secret police backers "no longer believe that a former KGB colonel is needed [as President], but, rather, a former KGB general should rule Russia," Piontkovski speculated to Die Welt.
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