Paths of Modernization of Russia
"If modernization is more than a slogan, then one must think about how to implement it", - Toby Gati’s said in her interview with Voice of America.
Toby Gati’s interview with Voice of America: Paths of Modernization of Russia
Toby Gati is Senior International Advisor at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld. She was Special Advisor to President Clinton and Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia at the White House National Security Council, and participated in the design and implementation of U.S. foreign policy toward Russia. Gati, an expert advisor associated with the Moscow School of Political Studies and a member of the School’s Board of Directors, is the author of numerous works on US-Russian relations and the politics and economy of Russia. In an interview with the Russian service of Voice of America, Toby Gati underscored the need for Russia to continue on the course of modernization if it is to preserve the country’s power and status in the world.
Inna Dubinskaya: Do you think President Medvedev’s keynote speech and the Russia modernization project prepared a few days ago by the Institute of Contemporary Development are programmatically linked to each other?
Toby Gati: You know, to speak about modernization is one thing and to undertake modernization is another. I think that the ideas put forward by the Institute are aimed at implementing what many others have talked about and determining what steps are needed. These are very important proposals. I think it is correct that something needs to change. People, of course, see that everything today is not the way they would wish, but they are afraid of big changes. However, the world is rapidly changing, and in order for Russia to remain a strong country something must be done.
ID: Among the proposals for modernization are the abolition of the FSB in its current state and the restoration of elections for governors. How realistic is it that the Government will accept these proposals?
TG: A very long list of proposals has been put forward, but the most important thing now is not any one specific proposal concerning the election of governors or local authorities. It has to be kept in mind that the system today does not meet Russia’s real needs. I think the most important thing is not any particular proposal about the FSB, but that everyone understands that these state structures today do not protect the population of Russia. Much has already been written about this – that they do not fight against corruption, they do not see corruption, and they do nothing against corruption because it is in their interest to do nothing. And that is why I think that specific proposals are, of course, important, but the most important thing is to understand that the system is not up to what is required for modernization. If modernization is more than a slogan, then one must think about how to implement it.
This is not my conclusion. I am an American: I do not have the right to tell Russians what to do, but one can read Russian newspapers every day and see how much is written about this! So this is not advice “from America.” It is the conclusion of people who understand what is going on in Russia today.
ID: Well, all right, but Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, for example, on the contrary, claims credit for the policies he pursued as President and believes that now as Prime Minister he is doing the right thing by continuing the same policies, and, according to polls, a significant majority of Russians support him.
TG: People know that there are problems, but they are afraid of big changes because things could get worse and, in some places, things would probably get worse, for example, in small towns. But something has to be done. People must either relocate or new jobs must be found. This is, of course, very difficult – and I am not talking here from the point of view of only Russia, but from the point of view of America. We have some of the same problems; we know that there is much we need to do, but there is inertia among people who live well in the old system and do not want to change anything. When Medvedev's keynote speech on the development of Russia was broadcast, in the audience were more than 500 people who live rather well according to the old rules -- why should they change anything? Modernization is not a conservative process: it is a very radical undertaking. You can’t do “just a little” modernization. Let’s say, for example, England wanted to change its practice of driving on the left to driving on the right. Many would caution that this presupposes very radical change. So, the authorities can promise that this change will affect only trucks. But that’s ridiculous. Can you think of a modernization in which one part of the system changes and the other parts do not? Small and medium businesses need to develop, but this is impossible with such levels of corruption. The result will be either no small and medium businesses, or not so much corruption.
Society must choose -- and to make such a very serious choice society must be brave and resolute. I can understand Putin’s point of view. He was President and he defends what he has done. And many Russians believe that he was a good President. But to be a true leader means to understand that it is impossible to live on past achievements. The world is changing rapidly. We see in America that change is very difficult. We also have a leader who wants change, but many people don’t want to change. If there is no change in the system -- and in Russia there are many people who do not want to change anything – then the task is not simple. I think that the recommendations of the Institute for Contemporary Development are intended to make clear to Russian society that modernization is a real thing and that something must be done to transform Russia’s attitude to business if Russia wants to become part of a strong global community. And, of course, Russia can become such a state – but there has to be some understanding of what modernization means. If one assumes that it is just a slogan, then nothing will change and Russia can continue to live as it has in the past – not badly but not well. But that would be a shame because Russia has a great potential. The Russian people are very smart and talented; they can do anything. Therefore you must explain why modernization is needed.
Read in Russian http://www1.voanews.com/russian/news/Analysis-and-perspectives/Russia-modernisation_2010_02_08-83815612.html