Between Russia and the USSR

Peer Dmitri Medvedev Fyodor Lukyanov wrote an epilogue to the last stage of his career. ...
Trying to peer President epilogue to the last stage of his career.
Three and a half years ago, in March 2008 when a referendum confirmed the choice of Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin became the new owner, Dmitry Medvedev, the editors ' Spark ' has asked me to speak in a non- genre. Like almost coeval president (Medvedev, a year older than me ) who grew up in similar social environments, your humble servant offered to try to formulate some typical features, based on the characteristics of time and space, which was formed this generation.

I undertook this task, not without trepidation, because obviously generalizations are dangerous, if at all possible. However, lost in memories of childhood and youth, from elementary school to the army and the university, I stated something that seemed to me, it is important to understand the mentality of the cohort, a representative of the Russian throne taken at the beginning of the XXI century. And most importantly - what of it ( that is, from us ) we can expect.

The article (in accordance with the then age of Dmitry Medvedev ) called '42: between the USSR and Russia ' to pretentious subtitle ' Confessions of a classmate of President of the fate of generations '. Today, the president has 46. And a warm September day in 2011, exactly 10 days after his next birthday, not so much changed his destiny as the perception of what were those three and a half years, when ' our generation ' managed the world's largest power. Well, or at least, it was thought that guided the. In light of the return to the helm of ' senior ' was interesting to assess whether anything has come true from what I was supposed.

Engaged in improper self-citations, but it is hard to do. I will begin immediately with the conclusion: ... Therefore, the stability - it is not just a slogan, it's really a desire to avoid new shocks '.

Yeah, I got to the stability of the apple. However, to be honest, I was unable to even guess how far can extend the love of it. Regardless of whether the planned reshuffle of the whole scenario from the beginning, as cheerfully made ​​it clear to the tandem of Congress, or is it a decision taken at a late stage, the reluctance of the President at least try to go beyond the scope of predestined strikingly.

If you do not look for reasons personal qualities, you can refer to a kind of ' adjustment syndrome ', the legacy of a time when peers were part of the President's active life. Fresh memories of how short the distance may be from very good intentions and noble intentions to the slipping wheel from his hands and disaster. This is probably one of the reasons for the fear of change, which is as it seems, simply paralyze the Russian leadership, fascinated with the hope that somehow you can get by means of conservative treatment.

It seems, incidentally, that my age, once the most part passionately believed in Gorbachev, and then deeply disappointed in it, will avoid a particular style of the period. But Medvedev compared exactly with Gorbachev. For an abundance of folding and ideologically correct speech, of which nothing should. For a liberal veil, however, very sleek and not to non-binding. (... ) For friendliness toward the West. Although, unlike Gorbachev, who offered some ideas, though, as it is now clear, and naive, positive Mr Medvedev was more polite and correct indifference, which gave the impression mainly on the background of Putin's brutal arrogance.

Again, from an article in 2008: ' We have received vaccine from the naivety of any kind, become suspicious - too much of a beautiful and convincing sound from the TV screens and stands rallies, too little of it was true and sincere. Somehow it seems that this generation does not appear the person who can articulate a new political vision, will be the leitmotif of pragmatism and prudent use of posing possibilities. Allergy to pathos - and the reaction to the Soviet and the post-Soviet lies of any kind, although pro-, even anti-communist '.

Yes, the man did not appear. With the naivete is really long goodbye, and sincerity become a luxury. By the pathos, however, Medvedev did not experience an allergy, but because of temperament, that he is the president of several strained. Actually this new vision and enthusiasm run out - modernization has expanded series of concepts, successfully discredited in the late Soviet Union and the young in Russia: from socialism with a human face and restructuring to democracy and market. Can we assume the position of Medvedev pragmatic and prudent in terms of opportunities? . Anyway, my most important opportunity - become a real president - he decided not to use. Although by the thought that his chance is very real.

For our generation the presidency of Dmitry Medvedev became more negative character - the fact that the possibility of self- limited. It turns out that the rule of 40- year-olds - a strange interlude, an unsuccessful experiment, after which we returned to their rightful places ' elders ', baby boomer generation. They are still in their prime and are not going to give the reins. But they do not ever replace the current 40 -year-olds and younger. 30 -year-old native ambition, formed in the new Russia. Or is ' freedom generation ', that the USSR did not know and perceive the world through the gadgets and divaysov. By the way, the impression that Dmitry Medvedev, obsessed with modern communications, was just their president, and really grieve about his resignation except that charming hipsters, which he seemed to be modern and cool, but not disappointed peers the head of state, and certainly not ' fathers .

In the spring of 2008, I wrote that our generation - the transition from the USSR to Russia. It has its pluses and minuses, but the meaning of transitivity is just that after it comes something new and different. In the autumn of 2011, paradoxically, we must acknowledge that the transition brought back. His favorite subject recently - stagnant and Brezhnevism. Soviet generation in the person of Vladimir Putin has restored its leading status. And it is, in principle, it is pretty state of things, because ( as described by Lev Lurie in his recent brilliant article in the ' Ogonyok ' N 39 on Putin's peers ) fulfilled all the dreams of his youth. And a sin to refuse, and no reason to risk.

The trouble, however, that the post-Soviet era ( and the essence of it was just that it served as the starting point of the USSR, its existence and decay) over. Together with the exhausted its resources crumbling Soviet infrastructure meaningless any ideological or political concepts, borrowed from that time, or even mimic their. A new generation of leaders, which is more directed forward, and that seems to be personified, Dmitry Medvedev, for some reason could not or did not want to make a breakthrough. It turns out that it preferred to remain under the patronage of those who will inevitably look back to his youth, education, education, there to draw inspiration for the creation. Even if the recipes of the past are no longer applicable, and the instincts dulled.

That I completed my article assumption: although the brightest achievements of us should not expect, ' energy nedorealizovannaya in the preceding period, can be directed in a constructive direction '. This article can probably finish the same way. It is possible even that he Dmitry Medvedev will still be a long time to realize something of their own. On the day of the historical counterpart, Vyacheslav Nikonov, castling has expressed the view that the configuration of the Russian government is now determined to 24 years: 12 - Putin, then 12 - Medvedev or alternatively. I estimated - by the end of my service to the tandem will be 69. Well, taking into account medical advances still have time for you to direct ' nedorealizovannoe ' in a constructive direction.

Editor's note: probably not the views of all peer Dmitri Medvedev agree with the author of the article in the preliminary results of the current president made. ' Spark ' will be happy to provide the very word Mr President, and those who think differently.


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