What lies in the future for Russia?

[Grand Britannia]

They use sekirt Soviet plots to rebuild the USSR.

[Arglorand]

They use sekirt Soviet plots to rebuild the USSR.

Good luck to them on actually forcing Belarus (read: Lukashenko) to agree to this.

... Well, maybe agree isn't the term, because he already has.

The term would be, "actually do something to bring this around". Like in the Union State, Belarus has displayed an incredible ability to agree to some sort of confederation but then manage to actually @#!*% on Putin's wishes so much it shouldn't be diplomatically polite.

[Slarvainian]

I do believe that the economy will continue to grow in Russia. Putin I have a feeling we’ll still see in Russia for the next 12 years but maybe not the 18 like some predict. I doubt Russia will ever rise to a Great world power but will remain a very dominant force in the world.

[Betalia]

Russia is rotting from the inside out and I think it will probably break up eventually, it is way too large for its own good.

[Slarvainian]

Russia is rotting from the inside out and I think it will probably break up eventually, it is way too large for its own good.

Then it’s been too large for its own good for over a hundred years. There is no large separation movement in Russia at the moment and I doubt there will be.

[Kvatchdom]

They'll get through it. I have faith in United Russia.

[Betalia]

Russia is rotting from the inside out and I think it will probably break up eventually, it is way too large for its own good.

Then it’s been too large for its own good for over a hundred years. There is no large separation movement in Russia at the moment and I doubt there will be.

Not from a separation movement, but from rot and abandonment. In soviet and imperial times they would just import people to Siberia but Russia's population is declining and there is barely anyone living in most of Siberia except for the military. My guess is that Russia will recede to just its European regions and the rest of Russia will become protectorates of other countries, namely China.

[Arglorand]

Russia is rotting from the inside out and I think it will probably break up eventually, it is way too large for its own good.

Then it’s been too large for its own good for over a hundred years. There is no large separation movement in Russia at the moment and I doubt there will be.

Chechnya.
Well, it's definitely not large, and been rather forcibly pacified since the nineties, but just think of how many people would probably vote to secede from Russia if they were actually asked.

[Slarvainian]

Then it’s been too large for its own good for over a hundred years. There is no large separation movement in Russia at the moment and I doubt there will be.

Not from a separation movement, but from rot and abandonment. In soviet and imperial times they would just import people to Siberia but Russia's population is declining and there is barely anyone living in most of Siberia except for the military. My guess is that Russia will recede to just its European regions and the rest of Russia will become protectorates of other countries, namely China.

So you’re saying that just because of a lack of population in the area of Siberia, that Russia will not keep hold of the resource rich areas of Siberia?

[Slarvainian]

Then it’s been too large for its own good for over a hundred years. There is no large separation movement in Russia at the moment and I doubt there will be.

Chechnya.
Well, it's definitely not large, and been rather forcibly pacified since the nineties, but just think of how many people would probably vote to secede from Russia if they were actually asked.

Chechnya yes. I’m sure if they were asked they would succeed. But besides Chechnya there isn’t a big separation movement.

[Arglorand]

Chechnya.
Well, it's definitely not large, and been rather forcibly pacified since the nineties, but just think of how many people would probably vote to secede from Russia if they were actually asked.

Chechnya yes. I’m sure if they were asked they would succeed. But besides Chechnya there isn’t a big separation movement.

This is true enough - while I believe I was vaguely told something about Yakutia voicing some support for independence, I don't seem to have, despite some research into nationalist movements in Russia, ever actually found any proof. Then again, finding info on Russia's constituent republics is extremely hard, but still - if there are any movements to secede outside of Chechnya, they're probably not large enough to be actually relevant.

[New England and The Maritimes]

They're winding down. Their economy will continue to base itself more and more desperately around natural resources until that bubble has left and they'll be no better off than they were 15 years ago.

[Slarvainian]

Chechnya yes. I’m sure if they were asked they would succeed. But besides Chechnya there isn’t a big separation movement.

This is true enough - while I believe I was vaguely told something about Yakutia voicing some support for independence, I don't seem to have, despite some research into nationalist movements in Russia, ever actually found any proof. Then again, finding info on Russia's constituent republics is extremely hard, but still - if there are any movements to secede outside of Chechnya, they're probably not large enough to be actually relevant.

Indeed. I also don’t think there’s any kind of religious or ethnic factors that could play into a separation (Besides the Chechnya conflicts) Most of Russia is ethnically or Russian background and other ethnic populations I wouldn’t say are large enough in force for a future large separation.

[Astholm]

Russia may become a new outpost for Renault to build cheaper vehicles there; now they own Lada and Dacia, and Datsun being revived, I could see them building Datsuns for the Russian market.

The new Lada range appears to be Renault / Dacia-based anyway, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a Lada version of a previous-generation Renault Clio or Megane made.

General Motors appears to have invested there too; the Chevrolet Captiva is built there.

Looking online at this website, it seems Russia has a fairly broad mix of makes, but a limited range of models (e.g. the Ford Focus is only available as a petrol, no 1.0 turbo petrol or the 1.6 TDCi turbodiesel, and unusually, both the Chrysler 300C and Lancia Thema are available - the Chrysler being unavailable in the rest of Europe).

Interesting how it being on two continents has influenced model availability.

That said, Russia could become the next place to build cars after China, if it can shake off the Lada image, that is...

[Maurepas]

I think things stay the same for a while in Russia. I think the age of Superpowers is prettymuch done, the world simply doesn't work Unilaterally anymore, which renders such a classification meaningless.

As far as economically, it seems like for the time being we're stagnating, something needs to come a long that's going to revitalize the work force before growth is really a thing again.

[Great Borealia]

I see russia splitting into smaller countries in a violent civil war.

I've got to go with this. It's comparable to Canada. Canada's provinces are divisive and naggy, but we have a strong constitution, federal government, and an overall sense of some unity beyond it all. Not to mention Canada is stable.

Russia, less so. I am not familiar with Russian politics (beyond Putin being fairly aggressive), but I can easily the country splitting up into little factions clamouring for independence. It doesn't seem like the loveliest place to live, and if you reside in some far secluded region miles from Moscow, you would probably be inclined to feel it's not acting in your best interests and decide self-government would work better for you.

[OMGeverynameistaken]

I see russia splitting into smaller countries in a violent civil war.

I've got to go with this. It's comparable to Canada. Canada's provinces are divisive and naggy, but we have a strong constitution, federal government, and an overall sense of some unity beyond it all. Not to mention Canada is stable.

Russia, less so. I am not familiar with Russian politics (beyond Putin being fairly aggressive), but I can easily the country splitting up into little factions clamouring for independence. It doesn't seem like the loveliest place to live, and if you reside in some far secluded region miles from Moscow, you would probably be inclined to feel it's not acting in your best interests and decide self-government would work better for you.

The vast majority of Russia's population has no desire for 'independence' from Russia. Little enclaves like Chechnya might occasionally make an effort, but I've got a newsflash for you:
Russia's been dealing with that sort of thing since the 1500's.

Most of Russia is no more likely to break into 'smaller countries' than the US is. Further, anybody who doubts the Russian sense of unity and national identity has no idea what they're talking about. Russians, while they may dislike their government and seek to change it (sometimes violently,) are unquestionably Russian. Governments, leaders, ideologies, all come and go, but Russia remains.

[Frisivisia]

Putin. He will never die.

[Shofercia]

There's no real competition for UR, and this is becoming a bit worrisome. Many think that UR's causing that, but I think they're just taking the opportunity.

1. UR has at least had a hand in that. The UR and the government has forced the press into self censorship, effectively destroying Russia's freedom of the press.

2. UR helped enact constitutional changes before the election of 2007 to benefit themselves. UR went against the spirit of the law (but not the letter of the law) in having Putin serve as Prime Minister and then President again after his first stint in the Russian equivalent of the Oval Office.

I divided the statements, to make it easier for me to respond, I hope you won't mind. I'll start off with the second. I partially agree, one can criticize Putin for appointing a weak candidate, like Medvedev, instead of an actual contender, so insofar as that goes, sure. But if Putin nominated a stronger candidate, I think that it'd be a different issue.

As to the first part, you're wrong, simply because that's impossible in Russia. In the 1990s Al Gore invented the Internet... Well ok, I'm joking about that. However, at some point in time in the 1990s, Russian Online Community started, and eventually became a powerful force to be reckoned with. Additionally, the news in Russia was crap, for the most part. Sure you had Listiev and others like him trying to be honest, but, for the most part, corporations paid for the news, and killed off the opposition, even more brutally than Brezhnev did. About this time, Online News started to appear in Russia. Real news. Honest news. News that edited for form, not for content. Additionally, the Russian Online Community began taking off. Today, the ROC is quite powerful.

Additionally, Putin cannot regulate the Internet. He might've tried, sure. And he might have really wanted it. But he cannot. During the Ossetian War, in the first few days, the Western Media creamed the Russian Press like newbies. And then the Russian Online Community, numbering in the millions, rose up. And slowly, but surely, began chipping away at bullshit. And that wasn't the first time, far from it. Does Putin want to risk losing that support? And most people in Russia have access to Internet News. Maybe the government wants to regulate it. But they cannot. I can find viral criticism of Putin, that's allowed to be shown in Russia, on the Internet. Absolute, stone cold, vitriol. And that's allowed.

And this Internet push is going to other media. TV, radio, newspaper, those are becoming more and more aggressive. And as long as they follow certain Russian Cultural Rules, they'll be ok. What are these rules? Don't advocate for racism, mass murder, rape, Nazism, and similar bullshit. That's it. Since I'm not a racist, since I respect women, and since I'm not into murdering people, I can say whatever the fuck I want on Russian Internet, and get away with it. And I've done that. I've seen Live Journal accounts of famous movie producers, like the guy who wrote Turkish Gambit, call for a peaceful coup against the Kremlin. That's allowed. He's still writing movie scripts, some of which are shown on UR's Channel, despite his Peaceful Coup Against Putin blog. The issue with punks like Navalny was racism and theft. Not their criticism of Putin. Although, the interview I posted will tell you otherwise. Disagreement happens.

So while there might still be self-censorship on TV, radio, newspaper, if there's self-censorship for Internet-based media, it's either minute or nonexistent.

Here's a website of Internet Based Radio, that's now extremely popular as a radio station in Moscow: http://www.echo.msk.ru/
And here's what's on the frontpage: http://www.echo.msk.ru/blog/echomsk/1007188-echo/

Do I agree with it? Nope. But they have a right to publish it, and say it. Similarly I can enjoy Akunin's movies, without agreeing with his political stance.

Then it’s been too large for its own good for over a hundred years. There is no large separation movement in Russia at the moment and I doubt there will be.

Chechnya.
Well, it's definitely not large, and been rather forcibly pacified since the nineties, but just think of how many people would probably vote to secede from Russia if they were actually asked.

For all of the people yelling "Russia will break up" - bullshit. If you closely studied the policies of Stalin and Gorbachev, (also Gamzakhrudia's,) you'd know the reason for the Chechen Independence, lies not so much in the people of Russia craving independence, as it does in political mismanagement. For instance, Stalin's actions: Deport Chechens, (for burning his home city during the Russian Civil War,) chop Ossetia in half, given Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia to Azerbaijan, and forcibly make Abkhazia merge with Georgia. Gorbachev's actions: ignite a war in Nagorno-Karabakh, and impoverish the Caucasian Region. Since the Chechens were the poorest thanks to Stalin, the lack of Social Welfare hit them the hardest; they saw Moscow take, didn't see Moscow give, and revolted.

And what were the wars: Nagorno-Karabakh, Ossetian, Abkhaz, Chechen. First, Second, sometimes Third. That's it. So it's not the whole "hurr durr independence!" type crap. It's piss poor treatment by Stalin and Gorbachev. Give a minority, let me shit all over it, and they'll revolt. That's the case in any country. But these wars are very limited.

I've got to go with this. It's comparable to Canada. Canada's provinces are divisive and naggy, but we have a strong constitution, federal government, and an overall sense of some unity beyond it all. Not to mention Canada is stable.

Russia, less so. I am not familiar with Russian politics (beyond Putin being fairly aggressive), but I can easily the country splitting up into little factions clamouring for independence. It doesn't seem like the loveliest place to live, and if you reside in some far secluded region miles from Moscow, you would probably be inclined to feel it's not acting in your best interests and decide self-government would work better for you.

The vast majority of Russia's population has no desire for 'independence' from Russia. Little enclaves like Chechnya might occasionally make an effort, but I've got a newsflash for you:
Russia's been dealing with that sort of thing since the 1500's.

Most of Russia is no more likely to break into 'smaller countries' than the US is. Further, anybody who doubts the Russian sense of unity and national identity has no idea what they're talking about. Russians, while they may dislike their government and seek to change it (sometimes violently,) are unquestionably Russian. Governments, leaders, ideologies, all come and go, but Russia remains.

Damn, someone knows their history

[Pingxiang]

Slow decline. Hopefully Russia will (eventually) end up joining the European Union, if only to protect themselves from a slow takeover by Chinese immigration and business. The Russian Far East is underpopulated and full of resources, while China is overflowing with people and demand for materials to fuel their industrial machine.

Like it or not, Russia future is in the Russian Far East. One project in that region, is the Tumen river regional plan between China, Russia and North Korea. Even South Korea and Mongolia are interested.




Read this on Russia looking to the Far East. - http://www.nationmultimedia.com/busines ... 90531.html

Generally, China and Russia have always tended to have this special relationship since the empire days. Afterall, both nations border each other unlike the UK. and France which were separated from China by thousands of miles.

[Pingxiang]

They use sekirt Soviet plots to rebuild the USSR.

Did not know about this Eurasian Union. But you got to admit that Russia and Kazakhstan will be the dominate forces of this union.

[Densaner]

More corruption, oppression and the Medvedev/Putin combo until one of them croaks.

[Seleucas]

What do you think will happen to Russia in the near future.

I think the following are possibilities.

A. Russia's economy grows and becomes world power.
B. Russia and China become one country.
C. Russia becomes communist
D. A democratic revolution erupts, and democracy is introduced.

Thoughts?

A only. This would be concurrent with the US's inevitable decline in the years to come.

[New American Union]

Very short and simple:

[Napkiraly]

Snow, vodka, and bears.

And losing to Canada in ice hockey.