Sunday, November 25, 2001		Lead Article

Of glitter, glamour, market economy and communism
Hari Jaisingh

WHEN I came here first in the early eighties, it was the heyday of communism. Brezhnev was at the helm. He was no Stalin. But the prying eyes of the dreaded KGB were everywhere — virtually under every bed. Russia was still a super power. But communism was changing slowly but surely. The regime by then had become less harsh, but less efficient too. Perhaps, gone were the days of total fear. And without fear, corruption entered the soul of the system. Thereafter the process of decline became rapid.

Socialism had its social and economic usefulness. The state looked after people from the cradle to the grave. Everything was cheap and reasonable. Fear of old age, so common in the capitalist world, was unknown in Soviet times. That, I thought, was the most remarkable achievement of communism.

Today, Russia is virtually a capitalist country. Minus its efficiency. The old system is not fully uprooted. Many things remain the same. More so, habits and ways of thinking.

Moscow is no longer a city controlled by the Communist Party bureaucracy. However, the bureaucracy is still alive and kicking. Is it any way different? Perhaps in style, if not in substance.

So long as the system remains the same, nothing changes. Not even the all-pervading bureaucracy.

It may have changed colours — from red to soft pink. But the style remains the same. So do attitudes of obstructionism that corrupt the system and encourage corruption.

Globalisation and market economy have made a world of difference to the Russia of yesteryears. There is now glitter and a dash of glamour.

Walk in in any five-star hotel. There is a casino, a night club. Glitter. Glamour. And scantily-dressed tall beauties — not to solicit customers but to promote some multinational product or night club extravaganza.

Consumerism has gripped the Russian society. New utility and beauty products have taken the fancy of youngsters. They dress well and carry themselves elegantly.

The streets of Moscow reflect the changing profile of the new generation of Russians. They are market-oriented, and not ideology-oriented. Marx and Lenin no longer cast a spell on them — at least in main urban centres. No wonder, the influence of the Communist Party is on the decline, notwithstanding the fact that there is growing frustration and disenchantment with the system that glitters but does not deliver at the common man's level. It does not generate jobs and job security. Perhaps, things will improve once the economy picks up.

There are already some signs of revival of the economy under President Putin. All the same, certain alarming traits, too, are visible. The gap between the haves and the have-nots is growing. The rich have become richer and the poor poorer. This is inevitable as the market forces dictate everything — from health care to educational opportunities.

Families with modest means can no longer afford good education. They have to struggle hard to survive as the welfare face of the Russia of communism fame is disappearing fast. Now, even land is open to private ownership. This in itself will radically change socio-economic equations in Russia.

No one knows yet what is what. One cannot be sure of the future of the Communist Party as democracy is having a free run amidst market forces.

Ideas are free. Concepts are free. They are no longer subjected to state monopoly. The symbol of this critical change is the media scene. Pravada and Izvestia are no longer mass circulated publications. The old order has changed. But a new order is yet to get entrenched. Signs of change are visible everywhere. The new glitter is captivating in Moscow and St. Petersberg. But then Moscow and St. Petersberg are not Russia. Herein lies the challenge to Mr Putin's Russia. He was once very much part of the past. He is now a harbinger of market economy reforms. He seems determined to bring about changes. Time to watch out for Mr Putin's new Russia.

There is democracy. There is freedom and free election. There is pluralism. And there is no "big brother" breathing down your neck. But there is fear of the morrow, of unemployment and rampant corruption. The economic mafia controls large segments of the economy. The shops are full of the latest goods, a good part imported from Europe and America.

The worst is no doubt over. Russia has come out of its nightmare — from the trough of despondency and hopelessness. There is a new hope that Russia will emerge again as a super power.

There are occasional signs of disillusionment with the West. The Russians had a fascination of things American. Today they are becoming suspicious of certain facets of the USA. In fact, Russian nationalism has begun to re-assert itself with every slight shown by America.

Russia had great expectations from the West. There was hope that the western world would launch a Marshall Plan for Russia. Nothing of the sort happened. In fact, some western powers were seen to be destroying the Russian industry to prevent competition. For example, the defence industry, in which Russia had an edge over the West. At one stage the IMF threatened to cut off aid if Russia failed to snap its defence cooperation with India! Defence production forms the backbone of the Russian economy and its export. Naturally, Russia was not willing to oblige the West.

Today, the relations between Russia and the USA are cordial, though an air of suspicion prevails. In any case, the Cold War cannot be revived. Moscow knows this and is therefore willing to meet Washington half way even on sensitive matters. Russia is also aware of the fact that it has a "strategic partnership" with China and India.

President Putin must be having the satisfaction that America, which encouraged the ethnic separatism of the Chechens, who were in cahoots with the Taliban, is itself a victim of the activities of the Taliban and Osama bin Laden.

But haven't the events of September 11 changed the course of history? Today Russia is an active partner of the USA in the war against terrorism. All other issues have been pushed to the background.

All the same, there are invisible tensions on certain issues. For example, the question of who should control the gas and oil resources of Central Asia. America wanted to dismantle the Soviet "empire", but this has not happened. In fact, there is a better and clearer understanding today in Central Asia of the importance of the Russian market and the Russian connection. And China is an important presence in the region. So, any US dominance in the region at the expense of Russia is difficult, if not unthinkable.

And yet it is important for the USA to pacify Afghanistan and stamp out fundamentalism from both Islamabad and Kabul. This will help revive the old plan of the US oil company, UCAL, to construct a pipeline from Turkmenistan to Karachi.

America is quietly engaged. in the task of establishing new ties in the region. However, the upsurge in the Muslim world against it after the September 11 events was never envisaged. One can never be sure where this will take the USA and the world. Will it all end up in the "Clash of Civilisations" as predicted by Prof. Huntington? Or, will Russia and China assert themselves and change the course of history?

In these troubled days for America, it is good that it has Vladimir Putin as the President of Russia. He is a statesman, an able leader, and is unlikely to make it more difficult for President Bush as America did to Russia by encouraging the Chechen rebels. In fact, as I see it, the two will work together till the Islamic upsurge dies down or is handled effectively.