PUTIN REDUX: CONTINUITY AND CHANGE Public lecture by PROF RICHARD SAKWA

Klipi teostus: UTTV 05.03.2013 4735 vaatamist Riigiteadus


Putin is back as president of Russia, but is it the same Putin? Is it the same country? The world at large has also changed. This lecture will examine all three elements. As part of the presidential campaign in 2012, Putin issued a number of important documents, which together begin to outline a more coherent ideology of 'Putinism'. Even if he wished, Putin cannot rule as he did in his first two terms between 2000 and 2012. The widespread popular mobilisation in protest against the flawed parliamentary and presidential elections signals that society has matured, and is no longer willing to accept a subordinate place in the system. Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister keeps alive the hopes of the reformers. Putin does have a reactionary agenda, but this is combined with an attempt to devise a new pattern of modernisation for the country. At the same time, the external challenges have become more focused: the rise of China on Russia's borders, new plans for regional integration in post- Soviet Eurasia, disarray in the European Union, the need for a more coherent response to crises such as that in Syria, and the constant geopolitical struggle with the United States. Putin is back, but the country and the worldhave moved on. Can Putin keep up? Richard Sakwa is Professor of Russian and European Politics, School of Politics and International Relations, University of Kent, UK. Before moving to Kent, he lectured at the University of Essex and the University of California, Santa Cruz. Prof. Sakwa is an Associate Fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, a member of the Advisory Boards of the Institute of Law and Public Policy in Moscow, chair of the Advisory Board of the Eurasian Political Studies Network and, since September 2002, a member of Academy of Learned Societies for the Social Sciences. Arvukate Venemaad käsitlevate raamatute ja artiklite autor, Kenti ülikooli Venemaa ja Euroopa poliitika professor Richard Sakwa peab avaliku loengu "Putin Redux: Continuity and Change". Professor Sakwa küsib oma loengus: Putin on tagasi Venemaa presidendi toolil, kuid on see ikka seesama Putin? Kas tegemist on sellesama riigiga, mis enne? Nii Venemaa kui muu maailm on liikunud edasi. Kas Putin suudab sammu pidada? 2012. aasta presidendivalimiste kampaania käigus üllitas Putin mitu tähtsat dokumenti, mis üheskoos võetuna annavad aimu kujuvõtvast "putinismi"-ideoloogiast. Isegi kui Putin sooviks, ei saaks ta enam Venemaad valitseda nii, nagu tegi ta seda perioodil 2000-2012. Masside mobiliseerumine protestiks vildakate parlamendi- ja presidendivalimiste vastu näitab, et kodanikuühiskond on muutunud küpsemaks ega aktsepteeri enam alluva rolli Venemaa poliitilises süsteemis. Dmitri Medvedevi püsimine peaministri toolil hoiab elus reformistide lootusi. Putini poliitiline agenda on reaktsiooniline, kuid seda iseloomustab ka püüd leiutada toimiv retsept riigi moderniseerimiseks. Samal ajal on välispoliitilised väljakutsed omandanud konkreetsemad piirjooned: Venemaa piiri taga kogub jõudu Hiina, Nõukogude-järgne Euraasia vaeb regionaalse lõimumise võimalusi, Euroopa liit püüab majandust jalule aidata, Süüria-laadsed kriisid vajavad läbimõeldud vastust, geopoliitiline rivaliteet USA-ga jätkub.Putin on tagasi, aga nii Venemaa kui muu maailm on liikunud edasi. Kas Putin suudab sammu pidada?