Russian Democracy in Eclipse: The Limits of Bureaucratic Authoritarianism

After a decade of revolutionary changes Russia is returning back toward traditionalism. Vladimir Putin is trying to modernize Russia through forming bureaucratic authoritarian regime. But his authoritarianism is weak being constrained first of all by apparatus, the major gravedigger of all Russian reforms. Russian stability is fragile being based on the presidential ratings and lack of alternative. Russia’s economic growth is hardly sustainable when the economy is not diversified. Russian modernization can’t be achieved without changing the way Russia is being ruled. So far Putin has proved that he is not ready for this task which means that Russia is doomed to face stagnation or crisis. And the goal of Russian liberals to prepare ground for new reformist agenda.