RUSSIA'S ANTI-CORRUPTION MARCHES - PROBABLY A WORTHY CAUSE, BUT NOT THE RIGHT TIME? PART 1.

'Corruption is most probably a feature of all aspects an individual's life, just as it most certainly is in a feature of all aspects of a nation's economic, political, spiritual and social life. The only issue is probably one of 'definition' and the amount of 'corruption' there is, and the nature and extent of its impact on the life of the individual or nation.'

According to the ruling or dominant western worldview of Russia and the Russian Federation, they are ruled by autocratic systems of governments. 

By this, we can imagine a Russia and Russian Federation in which the ruling elites, like ruling elites in all or most countries.  

Rise to and maintain their power through a system of political patronage, nepotism, corruption, unlawful means, the manipulation of the legal system, and fear.

At its most sublime, such a system will appear to have been accepted and running smoothly.  

Because of its pervasiveness, its 'normality', and the fact that the majority of the populace are not daily out on the streets and up in arms, protesting about it. Not yet, at any rate. 

Not while they continue to be able to compare it favourably, with what had gone on before. And while their hope that things will and are improving, is not greatly threatened. 

Ordinary people are not 'idealists', but pragmatists. They do not always want to 'the how or where from'; but just to be able to have what it takes to get by.

Russian emigres to the West, have become known for being 'filthy rich', and it is the common belief that they accumulated their wealth by robbing the people of Russia and Russian Federation. 

After the collapse of the Soviet Union. And have done so with the connivance of current and former politicians. 

A view which is still current, despite the fact that the Russian legal system has been known to make examples of economically powerful Russians,. 

Such as Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who have fallen foul of the governing elites. 

Something which has seen many extremely wealthy Russian leaving or being forced to leave Russia. With what they can of their wealth, or being thrown into prisons, after being convicted for various offences.

And so, we can see that, as in the West, wealthy and powerful men can also end up in prison for the crimes they have been convicted of. 

Although there is the belief that, in Russia, political considerations might be playing much more of a role than strictly legal ones. 

Whereas, in the West, 'breaking the law', which is not ordinarily perceived as  codified political considerations, is more often cited.


And now we have some Russians coming out on the streets of Russia, marching against corruption. Apparently in the government of Russia, but also, we could imagine, in various parts of Russian society, as well. 

To be continued.