Russian Democracy?

Putin is back, not that anyone is surprised. This past week, Russia's President, Dmitry Medvedev, announced he would be stepping aside to allow predecessor and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to run for the Presidency, while keeping Medvedev on the ticket as Prime Minister. So ends the barely hidden plot of Putin's return to power. First elected in 2000, Putin served two termed before being limited by the constitution, his hand picked replacement then placed him as Prime Minister. It has not come as a surprise that Putin is again seeking the presidency, however it does present a difficult road ahead for a democratic Russian state.

Throughout Putin's time in office, and followed by Medvedev, opposition has been silenced. Russia practices a "managed democracy" where the television is under tight control and legitimate opposition is often not allowed to run for election. There is little doubt that Putin will not win the elections in March. In Russia, though most protesting Putin's power are silenced, most are silently accepting the leaders hold on the country. What I found most interesting in the article was that, the Kremlin (Russian Government) defends its actions, "by pointing to the "mindlessness" of Russians and the lack of a strong civil society." If a population is not willing to stand up for its rights does that make it ok for a government to just take them? Or is it the opposite, that people do not have the right to their rights unless they fight to keep them?

http://www.economist.com/node/21530997