Change, From Outside and Within

Interesting article by Susan Richards in the Guardian’s Comment is Free calling for more international support to Russia’s protesters, implying an end to the “Faustian pact with Putin, over energy (in Europe) and the “war against terror” (in the US).”  Emphasis mine.

Strategy 31 is not in itself going to precipitate political change in Russia. When liberalisation does come, it will probably be introduced by someone from within the heart of the power elite. That was the story with Khrushchev, and Gorbachev too. But together with popular discontent, these demonstrators will have played their part in triggering that change. Police violence towards them is likely to get worse. They are going to need to be able to rely on public opinion in the west to back them. Are they going to get it?