Thread: Is Russia a democracy? Плюс то же о некоторых других странах

Originally Posted by Hanna

What are the big differences in the politics of Edinaya Rossiya and the second largest party?

This is what the second largest party is going to do:
Своей стратегической целью в долгосрочной перспективе называет построение в России «обновлённого социализма». В краткосрочной перспективе ставит перед собой задачи: приход к власти «патриотических сил», национализация недр и стратегических отраслей экономики с сохранением малого и среднего предпринимательства, усиление социальной направленности политики государства.

Originally Posted by E-learner

This is what the second largest party is going to do:
Своей стратегической целью в долгосрочной перспективе называет построение в России «обновлённого социализма». В краткосрочной перспективе ставит перед собой задачи: приход к власти «патриотических сил», национализация недр и стратегических отраслей экономики с сохранением малого и среднего предпринимательства, усиление социальной направленности политики государства.

Ok.. No version of real socialism can win an election anymore though. I think that's true for Russia too. The market forces against it are too strong.

There was a period, during which socialist parties won fair and square elections in Europe, but it's just too late. The forces that would oppose socialism are too strong, well organised and well prepared.

Plus, media has painted a (mostly false) horror vision of what life was like in socialist countries, using the worst examples, the worst periods and the most extreme excesses.

I think you are stuck with Edinnaya Rossiya then: If the closest opposition are serious communists/socialists. They can never actually win an election can they? Unless they set out for Revolution 2.0 they will never be in power.

It's a shame that it should be such a shambles democracy - but it's no worse than the USA. They can't achieve real change through the ballot either, for the same reason. They get essentially the same regardless of which party they vote for. Europe is getting closer to that situation every year.