Konnander on the Oligarchs and Russia’s Vicious Cycle

Returning to the blogosphere from the vaunted one-month European vacation, Vilhelm Konnander has an excellent review of the oligarch situation in Russia. His piece explodes the myth that Putin is at war with the oligarchs and/or corruption in Russia. What Putin is at war with is somebody else’s oligarchs. He simply replaced those of the former system with his own, and established an even more abject contempt for property rights than his predecessor. As Konnander states:

Russia during the 1990s has often been compared to the United States during the early 20th century, when Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan and other business tycoons succeeded in forming next to total monopolies in various areas of business. However, this argument falls flat as the Putin administration displays such a blatant disregard of basic property rights – the very nucleus of a working market economy. That the oligarchs may have done the same in the early 1990s is no excuse for a state to follow such conduct. Moreover, one may argue that one oligarchy today is replaced by another, while the spoils of state action against the oligarchs partly end up in the hands of Putin’s entourage, thus effectively redistributing assets from private to private hands instead of to government control. Consequently, Putin’s people enrich themselves by forcing parts of Russian business into their own hands. Of course, such behaviour is but a parallel to Putin’s political agenda, gaining control over all relevant areas of society. Seeing similarities between Russia of the 1990s and the US of the 1910s becomes laughable if turning to president Wilson’s credo of “making the world safe for democracy.” It is quite apparent that Putin neither makes Russia safe for democracy nor makes Russia safe for market economy.

First there was Peter I. He destroyed Russia’s problem with isolation but, in so doing, created Russia’s problem of monarchy.

Then there was Lenin. He destroyed Russia’s problem with monarchy, but in so doing he created Russia’s problem of totalitarianism.

After that there was Yeltsin. He destroyed Russia’s problem of totalitarianism, but in so doing he created Russia’s problem of oligarchy.

Now there is Putin. He destroyed Russia’s problem of oligarchy and is busily in the the process of reverting to totalitarianism, but now based less on conventional weapons and more on weaponization of energy.

Perhaps, if Russia exists that long, someone will destroy the problem Putin created, and replace it with one of his (or maybe even her) own.

Will the cycle ever end?

Thanks for reading La Russophobe !

Konnander on the Oligarchs and Russia’s Vicious Cycle

Returning to the blogosphere from the vaunted one-month European vacation, Vilhelm Konnander has an excellent review of the oligarch situation in Russia. His piece explodes the myth that Putin is at war with the oligarchs and/or corruption in Russia. What Putin is at war with is somebody else’s oligarchs. He simply replaced those of the former system with his own, and established an even more abject contempt for property rights than his predecessor. As Konnander states:

Russia during the 1990s has often been compared to the United States during the early 20th century, when Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan and other business tycoons succeeded in forming next to total monopolies in various areas of business. However, this argument falls flat as the Putin administration displays such a blatant disregard of basic property rights – the very nucleus of a working market economy. That the oligarchs may have done the same in the early 1990s is no excuse for a state to follow such conduct. Moreover, one may argue that one oligarchy today is replaced by another, while the spoils of state action against the oligarchs partly end up in the hands of Putin’s entourage, thus effectively redistributing assets from private to private hands instead of to government control. Consequently, Putin’s people enrich themselves by forcing parts of Russian business into their own hands. Of course, such behaviour is but a parallel to Putin’s political agenda, gaining control over all relevant areas of society. Seeing similarities between Russia of the 1990s and the US of the 1910s becomes laughable if turning to president Wilson’s credo of “making the world safe for democracy.” It is quite apparent that Putin neither makes Russia safe for democracy nor makes Russia safe for market economy.

First there was Peter I. He destroyed Russia’s problem with isolation but, in so doing, created Russia’s problem of monarchy.

Then there was Lenin. He destroyed Russia’s problem with monarchy, but in so doing he created Russia’s problem of totalitarianism.

After that there was Yeltsin. He destroyed Russia’s problem of totalitarianism, but in so doing he created Russia’s problem of oligarchy.

Now there is Putin. He destroyed Russia’s problem of oligarchy and is busily in the the process of reverting to totalitarianism, but now based less on conventional weapons and more on weaponization of energy.

Perhaps, if Russia exists that long, someone will destroy the problem Putin created, and replace it with one of his (or maybe even her) own.

Will the cycle ever end?

Thanks for reading La Russophobe !

Konnander on the Oligarchs and Russia’s Vicious Cycle

Returning to the blogosphere from the vaunted one-month European vacation, Vilhelm Konnander has an excellent review of the oligarch situation in Russia. His piece explodes the myth that Putin is at war with the oligarchs and/or corruption in Russia. What Putin is at war with is somebody else’s oligarchs. He simply replaced those of the former system with his own, and established an even more abject contempt for property rights than his predecessor. As Konnander states:

Russia during the 1990s has often been compared to the United States during the early 20th century, when Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan and other business tycoons succeeded in forming next to total monopolies in various areas of business. However, this argument falls flat as the Putin administration displays such a blatant disregard of basic property rights – the very nucleus of a working market economy. That the oligarchs may have done the same in the early 1990s is no excuse for a state to follow such conduct. Moreover, one may argue that one oligarchy today is replaced by another, while the spoils of state action against the oligarchs partly end up in the hands of Putin’s entourage, thus effectively redistributing assets from private to private hands instead of to government control. Consequently, Putin’s people enrich themselves by forcing parts of Russian business into their own hands. Of course, such behaviour is but a parallel to Putin’s political agenda, gaining control over all relevant areas of society. Seeing similarities between Russia of the 1990s and the US of the 1910s becomes laughable if turning to president Wilson’s credo of “making the world safe for democracy.” It is quite apparent that Putin neither makes Russia safe for democracy nor makes Russia safe for market economy.

First there was Peter I. He destroyed Russia’s problem with isolation but, in so doing, created Russia’s problem of monarchy.

Then there was Lenin. He destroyed Russia’s problem with monarchy, but in so doing he created Russia’s problem of totalitarianism.

After that there was Yeltsin. He destroyed Russia’s problem of totalitarianism, but in so doing he created Russia’s problem of oligarchy.

Now there is Putin. He destroyed Russia’s problem of oligarchy and is busily in the the process of reverting to totalitarianism, but now based less on conventional weapons and more on weaponization of energy.

Perhaps, if Russia exists that long, someone will destroy the problem Putin created, and replace it with one of his (or maybe even her) own.

Will the cycle ever end?

Thanks for reading La Russophobe !

Konnander on the Oligarchs and Russia’s Vicious Cycle

Returning to the blogosphere from the vaunted one-month European vacation, Vilhelm Konnander has an excellent review of the oligarch situation in Russia. His piece explodes the myth that Putin is at war with the oligarchs and/or corruption in Russia. What Putin is at war with is somebody else’s oligarchs. He simply replaced those of the former system with his own, and established an even more abject contempt for property rights than his predecessor. As Konnander states:

Russia during the 1990s has often been compared to the United States during the early 20th century, when Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan and other business tycoons succeeded in forming next to total monopolies in various areas of business. However, this argument falls flat as the Putin administration displays such a blatant disregard of basic property rights – the very nucleus of a working market economy. That the oligarchs may have done the same in the early 1990s is no excuse for a state to follow such conduct. Moreover, one may argue that one oligarchy today is replaced by another, while the spoils of state action against the oligarchs partly end up in the hands of Putin’s entourage, thus effectively redistributing assets from private to private hands instead of to government control. Consequently, Putin’s people enrich themselves by forcing parts of Russian business into their own hands. Of course, such behaviour is but a parallel to Putin’s political agenda, gaining control over all relevant areas of society. Seeing similarities between Russia of the 1990s and the US of the 1910s becomes laughable if turning to president Wilson’s credo of “making the world safe for democracy.” It is quite apparent that Putin neither makes Russia safe for democracy nor makes Russia safe for market economy.

First there was Peter I. He destroyed Russia’s problem with isolation but, in so doing, created Russia’s problem of monarchy.

Then there was Lenin. He destroyed Russia’s problem with monarchy, but in so doing he created Russia’s problem of totalitarianism.

After that there was Yeltsin. He destroyed Russia’s problem of totalitarianism, but in so doing he created Russia’s problem of oligarchy.

Now there is Putin. He destroyed Russia’s problem of oligarchy and is busily in the the process of reverting to totalitarianism, but now based less on conventional weapons and more on weaponization of energy.

Perhaps, if Russia exists that long, someone will destroy the problem Putin created, and replace it with one of his (or maybe even her) own.

Will the cycle ever end?

Thanks for reading La Russophobe !

Konnander on the Oligarchs and Russia’s Vicious Cycle

Returning to the blogosphere from the vaunted one-month European vacation, Vilhelm Konnander has an excellent review of the oligarch situation in Russia. His piece explodes the myth that Putin is at war with the oligarchs and/or corruption in Russia. What Putin is at war with is somebody else’s oligarchs. He simply replaced those of the former system with his own, and established an even more abject contempt for property rights than his predecessor. As Konnander states:

Russia during the 1990s has often been compared to the United States during the early 20th century, when Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan and other business tycoons succeeded in forming next to total monopolies in various areas of business. However, this argument falls flat as the Putin administration displays such a blatant disregard of basic property rights – the very nucleus of a working market economy. That the oligarchs may have done the same in the early 1990s is no excuse for a state to follow such conduct. Moreover, one may argue that one oligarchy today is replaced by another, while the spoils of state action against the oligarchs partly end up in the hands of Putin’s entourage, thus effectively redistributing assets from private to private hands instead of to government control. Consequently, Putin’s people enrich themselves by forcing parts of Russian business into their own hands. Of course, such behaviour is but a parallel to Putin’s political agenda, gaining control over all relevant areas of society. Seeing similarities between Russia of the 1990s and the US of the 1910s becomes laughable if turning to president Wilson’s credo of “making the world safe for democracy.” It is quite apparent that Putin neither makes Russia safe for democracy nor makes Russia safe for market economy.

First there was Peter I. He destroyed Russia’s problem with isolation but, in so doing, created Russia’s problem of monarchy.

Then there was Lenin. He destroyed Russia’s problem with monarchy, but in so doing he created Russia’s problem of totalitarianism.

After that there was Yeltsin. He destroyed Russia’s problem of totalitarianism, but in so doing he created Russia’s problem of oligarchy.

Now there is Putin. He destroyed Russia’s problem of oligarchy and is busily in the the process of reverting to totalitarianism, but now based less on conventional weapons and more on weaponization of energy.

Perhaps, if Russia exists that long, someone will destroy the problem Putin created, and replace it with one of his (or maybe even her) own.

Will the cycle ever end?

Thanks for reading La Russophobe !

Who’s Looking at La Russophobe *blush*

Today is the five-month anniversary of this blog, and this is, by happy coincidence, our 600th post. On Wednesday, we were proud to welcome our 9,000th visit to the blog and on Thursday our 900th profile view. On Friday, as previously announced, we broke into the top 100,000 blogs in the world as evaluated by Technorati. Who are these vistors, you ask?

For those who may be interested, the chart above shows a graphic representation of La Russophobe’s traffic by nation. Just over half of our readers come from the United States, just under half are internationals ranging from Argentina to Switzerland, including over two dozen different countries.

The blog is now averaging more than 700 visits (and over 1,500 page views) per week or close to 3,000 visits (and over 6,000 page views) per month. Before the middle of the month we will record the 10,000th visit to the blog, a major milestone which will come a few weeks before our six-month anniversary. Although the blog has only just begun, it’s already clear that there is a substantial community in the blogosphere that is strongly interested in the fate of democracy in Russia, and we welcome all the members of that community to this blog. We thank and admire all those who are willing to take positive steps to stand up for democracy and against tyrrany in the Neo-Soviet Union. History will record that our community sounded the clarion call to action when action was still possible; whether that call will be heeded remains of course to be seen.

Undoubtedly, a number of our readers are also simply worried about the consequences for their own nations, especially those located close to Russia’s borders, as the Iron Curtain once again descends across the continent. To them La Russophobe expresses her admiration, fellowship and empathy, since she does not have to bear that particular burden. Part of the reason this blog exists is to make an expression of support for your position. Hopefully, a concerted world effort will protect you.

Finally, there are surely some people who are simply interested in Russia as a hobby, and La Russophobe, averaging more than 100 posts per month, is the most content-rich Russia speciality blog in the world, so these readers know they can find something new and interesting about Russia on this blog every single day. Those with an interest in Russia are always welcome to submit material for publication on this blog.

Thanks for reading La Russophobe !

Who’s Looking at La Russophobe *blush*

Today is the five-month anniversary of this blog, and this is, by happy coincidence, our 600th post. On Wednesday, we were proud to welcome our 9,000th visit to the blog and on Thursday our 900th profile view. On Friday, as previously announced, we broke into the top 100,000 blogs in the world as evaluated by Technorati. Who are these vistors, you ask?

For those who may be interested, the chart above shows a graphic representation of La Russophobe’s traffic by nation. Just over half of our readers come from the United States, just under half are internationals ranging from Argentina to Switzerland, including over two dozen different countries.

The blog is now averaging more than 700 visits (and over 1,500 page views) per week or close to 3,000 visits (and over 6,000 page views) per month. Before the middle of the month we will record the 10,000th visit to the blog, a major milestone which will come a few weeks before our six-month anniversary. Although the blog has only just begun, it’s already clear that there is a substantial community in the blogosphere that is strongly interested in the fate of democracy in Russia, and we welcome all the members of that community to this blog. We thank and admire all those who are willing to take positive steps to stand up for democracy and against tyrrany in the Neo-Soviet Union. History will record that our community sounded the clarion call to action when action was still possible; whether that call will be heeded remains of course to be seen.

Undoubtedly, a number of our readers are also simply worried about the consequences for their own nations, especially those located close to Russia’s borders, as the Iron Curtain once again descends across the continent. To them La Russophobe expresses her admiration, fellowship and empathy, since she does not have to bear that particular burden. Part of the reason this blog exists is to make an expression of support for your position. Hopefully, a concerted world effort will protect you.

Finally, there are surely some people who are simply interested in Russia as a hobby, and La Russophobe, averaging more than 100 posts per month, is the most content-rich Russia speciality blog in the world, so these readers know they can find something new and interesting about Russia on this blog every single day. Those with an interest in Russia are always welcome to submit material for publication on this blog.

Thanks for reading La Russophobe !

Who’s Looking at La Russophobe *blush*

Today is the five-month anniversary of this blog, and this is, by happy coincidence, our 600th post. On Wednesday, we were proud to welcome our 9,000th visit to the blog and on Thursday our 900th profile view. On Friday, as previously announced, we broke into the top 100,000 blogs in the world as evaluated by Technorati. Who are these vistors, you ask?

For those who may be interested, the chart above shows a graphic representation of La Russophobe’s traffic by nation. Just over half of our readers come from the United States, just under half are internationals ranging from Argentina to Switzerland, including over two dozen different countries.

The blog is now averaging more than 700 visits (and over 1,500 page views) per week or close to 3,000 visits (and over 6,000 page views) per month. Before the middle of the month we will record the 10,000th visit to the blog, a major milestone which will come a few weeks before our six-month anniversary. Although the blog has only just begun, it’s already clear that there is a substantial community in the blogosphere that is strongly interested in the fate of democracy in Russia, and we welcome all the members of that community to this blog. We thank and admire all those who are willing to take positive steps to stand up for democracy and against tyrrany in the Neo-Soviet Union. History will record that our community sounded the clarion call to action when action was still possible; whether that call will be heeded remains of course to be seen.

Undoubtedly, a number of our readers are also simply worried about the consequences for their own nations, especially those located close to Russia’s borders, as the Iron Curtain once again descends across the continent. To them La Russophobe expresses her admiration, fellowship and empathy, since she does not have to bear that particular burden. Part of the reason this blog exists is to make an expression of support for your position. Hopefully, a concerted world effort will protect you.

Finally, there are surely some people who are simply interested in Russia as a hobby, and La Russophobe, averaging more than 100 posts per month, is the most content-rich Russia speciality blog in the world, so these readers know they can find something new and interesting about Russia on this blog every single day. Those with an interest in Russia are always welcome to submit material for publication on this blog.

Thanks for reading La Russophobe !

Who’s Looking at La Russophobe *blush*

Today is the five-month anniversary of this blog, and this is, by happy coincidence, our 600th post. On Wednesday, we were proud to welcome our 9,000th visit to the blog and on Thursday our 900th profile view. On Friday, as previously announced, we broke into the top 100,000 blogs in the world as evaluated by Technorati. Who are these vistors, you ask?

For those who may be interested, the chart above shows a graphic representation of La Russophobe’s traffic by nation. Just over half of our readers come from the United States, just under half are internationals ranging from Argentina to Switzerland, including over two dozen different countries.

The blog is now averaging more than 700 visits (and over 1,500 page views) per week or close to 3,000 visits (and over 6,000 page views) per month. Before the middle of the month we will record the 10,000th visit to the blog, a major milestone which will come a few weeks before our six-month anniversary. Although the blog has only just begun, it’s already clear that there is a substantial community in the blogosphere that is strongly interested in the fate of democracy in Russia, and we welcome all the members of that community to this blog. We thank and admire all those who are willing to take positive steps to stand up for democracy and against tyrrany in the Neo-Soviet Union. History will record that our community sounded the clarion call to action when action was still possible; whether that call will be heeded remains of course to be seen.

Undoubtedly, a number of our readers are also simply worried about the consequences for their own nations, especially those located close to Russia’s borders, as the Iron Curtain once again descends across the continent. To them La Russophobe expresses her admiration, fellowship and empathy, since she does not have to bear that particular burden. Part of the reason this blog exists is to make an expression of support for your position. Hopefully, a concerted world effort will protect you.

Finally, there are surely some people who are simply interested in Russia as a hobby, and La Russophobe, averaging more than 100 posts per month, is the most content-rich Russia speciality blog in the world, so these readers know they can find something new and interesting about Russia on this blog every single day. Those with an interest in Russia are always welcome to submit material for publication on this blog.

Thanks for reading La Russophobe !

Who’s Looking at La Russophobe *blush*

Today is the five-month anniversary of this blog, and this is, by happy coincidence, our 600th post. On Wednesday, we were proud to welcome our 9,000th visit to the blog and on Thursday our 900th profile view. On Friday, as previously announced, we broke into the top 100,000 blogs in the world as evaluated by Technorati. Who are these vistors, you ask?

For those who may be interested, the chart above shows a graphic representation of La Russophobe’s traffic by nation. Just over half of our readers come from the United States, just under half are internationals ranging from Argentina to Switzerland, including over two dozen different countries.

The blog is now averaging more than 700 visits (and over 1,500 page views) per week or close to 3,000 visits (and over 6,000 page views) per month. Before the middle of the month we will record the 10,000th visit to the blog, a major milestone which will come a few weeks before our six-month anniversary. Although the blog has only just begun, it’s already clear that there is a substantial community in the blogosphere that is strongly interested in the fate of democracy in Russia, and we welcome all the members of that community to this blog. We thank and admire all those who are willing to take positive steps to stand up for democracy and against tyrrany in the Neo-Soviet Union. History will record that our community sounded the clarion call to action when action was still possible; whether that call will be heeded remains of course to be seen.

Undoubtedly, a number of our readers are also simply worried about the consequences for their own nations, especially those located close to Russia’s borders, as the Iron Curtain once again descends across the continent. To them La Russophobe expresses her admiration, fellowship and empathy, since she does not have to bear that particular burden. Part of the reason this blog exists is to make an expression of support for your position. Hopefully, a concerted world effort will protect you.

Finally, there are surely some people who are simply interested in Russia as a hobby, and La Russophobe, averaging more than 100 posts per month, is the most content-rich Russia speciality blog in the world, so these readers know they can find something new and interesting about Russia on this blog every single day. Those with an interest in Russia are always welcome to submit material for publication on this blog.

Thanks for reading La Russophobe !

Neo-Soviet Russian Hypocrisy Knows no Bounds

When Russia is offended by the behavior of Georgia, does it negotiate or does it impose trade sanctions on wine and water?

When Russia is disturbed by the actions of Ukraine, does it discuss and investigate or does it cut off gas supplies?

As the world well knows, Russia goes right for the jugular.

But apparently Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov doesn’t approve of his own government’s actions. Reuters quotes him as follows: “We take into account the experience of the past and we cannot ally ourselves with ultimatums, which all lead to a dead end. Yes, there are countries whose policies raise doubts, and cause discontent, but we all live in the same world and we need to … draw them into dialogue, and not isolation and sanctions.”

Was Lavrov speaking about Georgia and Ukraine? Dream on. What he was talking about was the world’s effort to impose sanctions on Iran due to its nuclear weapons program. Or, he might just as well have been expressing Russia’s indigation that the U.S. would dare to sanction Russia by denying WTO approval.

In other words, it’s just fine for Russia to sanction OTHER COUTRIES, just like its fine for Russia to launch military attacks on those groups RUSSIA SAYS are terrorist. But let the United States attack Iraq the way Russia attacks Chechnya, or let the world seek to limit Iran’s nuclear program the way Russia tries to limit the actions of Ukraine and Georgia, and then Russia is morally outraged.

Is it any wonder that Russia stands alone in the world, utterly without allies? This kind of hypocrisy is hard to live with, hard indeed.

If the Foreign Minister is remotely serious about his comments, he might want to look into Russia’s announcement of sanctions against the Polish milk industry. Or Russia’s announcement of sanctions against the U.S. meat industry. Or Russia’s boycott of an Israeli trade fair to protest Israel’s actions against close Russian pal Hezbollah. Or any other direct actions Russia has taken, instead of negotiating and “being reasonable.” But of course, he’s not the least bit serious.

Thanks for reading La Russophobe !

LR on PP

Check out La Russophobe’s latest post on Publius Pundit, where she reviews the most recent data on Russian economic growth and pops some bubbles about its significance. Information of this kind is regularly mischaracterized in the press and the topic cannot be dealt with too often. Feel free to add your own thoughts about economic growth in Russia in the comments section.

Thanks for reading La Russophobe !