Unraveling The Tandem Switch

This about Politics, tagged , , , was written by for on October 8, 2011 .19 Comments

Now that my initial triumphalism over Putin’s return has faded a bit, it’s time for a more analytical look. One of the main reasons I thought Medvedev would be the more likely person to be United Russia’s Presidential candidate is that Putin was simply unwilling to return. As Daniel Treisman wrote in his book on post-Soviet […]

Why Obama Will Almost Certainly Lose

This about Politics, tagged , , , , was written by for on October 7, 2011 .46 Comments

And ironically, despite my blog’s focus, to date my US predictions have been more accurate than my Russian ones. Obama to become President? Check. Republicans to win 2010 mid-terms? Check. The emergence of “a new party, a new politics”, with “the feds [facing] challenges from the far-left and the far-right”? Check (Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street). Dammit, […]

Are Russian Elections Rigged?: Opinion Polls Speak Louder Than Western Rhetoric

This about Politics, tagged , , , , was written by for on June 18, 2011 .56 Comments

The notion that Russian elections are systemically rigged to keep the “party of power” in, well, power is so prevalent and accepted in journalistic, political, and academic discourse in the West that it has little need of supporting documentation. Taking the 2007 Duma elections as an example, they were described as “not fair” by OSCE, “managed” by […]

Making the Best of a Bad Situation

This about Politics, tagged , , , was written by for on May 11, 2010 .12 Comments

So news is in that Britain’s next government is going to be a Tory-Lib Dem coalition, bringing an end to thirteen years of New Labour dominance. At a time of profound economic uncertainty and the imminent return of Great Power politics, it is pollyannish to believe that any British government could resolve Britain’s manifold problems without […]

Congratulations, America!

This about Politics, tagged , , , , was written by for on November 4, 2008 .1 Comment

As I predicted he would, Obama has won overwhelmingly. As I argued, this was the best possible outcome for America – Obama understands the importance of investing heavily in renewable energy and new infrastructure, and would withdraw from the financially ruinous Iraq adventure. Just by his election, he has bolstered America’s battered image around the […]

Why Obama Will Almost Certainly Win

This about Politics, tagged , , , , was written by for on July 17, 2008 .No Comments

Read these two posts by Krugman at Conscience of a Liberal, here and here. 1. A looming recession, after seven years of stagnation in the US median wage, means that the likelihood of positive income growth this year is very small. Even assuming it’s 0% would mean that the incumbent party’s nominee, McCain, can be […]

More Reflections on Election Fraud

This about Politics, tagged , , , , , was written by for on April 7, 2008 .2 Comments

Two weeks ago Illarionov gave an interview on the Echo of Moscow radio station. Covering it in-depth is somewhat of a pointless exercise, what with him comparing 1999-2007 Russia with Nazi Germany in 1932-40 (because of their rapid economic growth and Russia’s supposed loss of the rule of law). Now not only is invoking Godwin’s […]

Flotsam and Jetsam: Election Entertainment

This about Politics, tagged , , , was written by for on March 6, 2008 .No Comments

Some 47% of Russians watched the pre-election debates between Zyuganov (Communists), Zhirinovsky (Liberal Democrats, i.e. nationalists) and Bogdanov (Democratic). (Medvedev decided against participating). Here’s a scene from when they thought they were off-camera, in which the ever colorful Zhirinovsky shows us how to debate properly.

Annals of Western Hypocrisy – Georgia Presidential Elections 2008

This about Politics, tagged , , , was written by for on January 9, 2008 .8 Comments

Saakashvili wins Georgian elections in first round (January 6th) TBILISI, Georgia: Georgia’s American-allied president won re-election over the weekend and avoided a runoff election in this small former Soviet state by a margin of 1 percent of the vote, according to official results released Sunday. … The main opposition candidate, Levan Gachechiladze, did not concede […]