The Democracy Gap In Russia

This article summarizes the results of a poll by the Pew Research Center in Russia. The results show that there is a gap between what many expect from democracy and what has been achieved.  For example, 71% would like to have a fair judicial system, but only 17% believe that the current judicial system is fair.  In fact, elites have used the judicial system to violate the property rights of citizens.  A visiting Russian professor at Oxford argues that reform of the judicial system will provide the path to democracy.

Russians are not that comfortable with the notion of democracy, even though they desire some of the potential goals of democracy.  That is because democracy was used to sell the public on reforms that led to the development of the oligarchy in Russia.  They are also ambivalent about Putin.  The majority approve of Putin, perhaps because no popular alternative exists, but they also approve of the protests against him and the election. Unfortunately, state controlled television has not reported on the protest movement.  It is only known by the residents in Russia's large cities.