Masha Lipman on the Status Quo
Masha Lipman paints a grim portrait of contemporary Russia in today’s Moscow Times, saying that, at best, consistently high approval ratings for Vladimir Putin over the years represent apathy rather than active choice.
Russian leaders’ high ratings do not […] indicate a rational preference for the incumbents over potential contenders. With political competition in Russia eviscerated, comparison and choice are not part of the political left. Rather, these poll numbers are a “vote” for the status quo. They convey a broadly shared sense that political change is not desired, notwithstanding terrorist attacks, technological catastrophes, lawless police, an unprecedented level of corruption or rigged elections.