February 29, 2008 By Robert Amsterdam

Putin Leaves Behind an Unaccountable and Unpredictable regime

Dr. Fraser Cameron of the EU-Russia Centre has a new opinion article in European Voice which takes a critical look at the legacy of Putinism, focusing especially on the tragic failure of the administration to take advantage of record high energy prices to diversify the economy, build infrastructure, and address outstanding health and demographic issues. Instead, Dr. Cameron argues, this oil- and gas-fed influence was used to consolidate power, weaken institutions, and engage in an unnecessarily confrontational foreign policy. See the full article after the jump. frasercameron022808.jpg Dr. Fraser Cameron of the EU-Russia Centre (left) with Russian human rights leader Lyudmila Alexeyeva – who has appeared in several video interviews on this blog.