Is Russia on track for joining the ‘common European space’? This was the topic of a conference in Vilnius last weekend, organised by the ‘Russia in United Europe’ committee, whose coordinator is Duma deputy, Vladimir Ryzhkov. From the point of view of the political system, the answer is no. Under the Putin presidency Russia has … Continue reading Russia and Europe: Which Common Space?
Author: Robert Skidelsky
Economist and member of the House of Lords
A new system is crawling from the Soviet wreckage
On 17 October the people of Belarus will be asked to approve a constitutional change allowing their President, Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko, a third term. No one doubts the result. As Joseph Stalin once said: 'It's not how people vote that matters, it's who counts the votes'. Why should anyone mind? Belarus is a small, Soviet-style … Continue reading A new system is crawling from the Soviet wreckage
Russia and Democracy
As President Putin chips away at Russian democracy, it is worth being reminded why, in the words of Winston Churchill, democracy is the worst system possible, except for every other. Everyone in theory believes in democracy. Even the communist states called themselves ‘people’s democracies’. But people are less clear why it is such a good … Continue reading Russia and Democracy
Essay: A Patient Politician, on Gordon Brown
What did Gordon Brown think of the Iraq war? "We stand full-square with the American government and people in fighting terrorism and will continue to do so," he declared in 2001. But his support for the prime minister's Iraq policy was scanty. According to Anthony Seldon, Brown had "serious misgivings." Had he made his disagreement … Continue reading Essay: A Patient Politician, on Gordon Brown
Against Wars
The American-British invasion of Iraq was supposed to open up a new front in the war against terrorism. Its most obvious fruit, though, has been to open a new front in the terrorist war against Western countries, by adding to the offence of the West against Islam. There should never have been a ‘war against … Continue reading Against Wars
A Forths Oil Crisis?
With the price of crude oil up from $29 a barrel in 2000 to over $40 now, the world economy is experiencing its fourth oil price shock in the last 30 years. In nominal terms, this is the highest price ever, but in real terms the price of oil remains well below the 1981 peak, … Continue reading A Forths Oil Crisis?
Fruits of Good Governance
The resumption of capital flight from Russia is a predictable response to the Russian government’s onslaught on the Yukos and Michael Khodorkovsky. It’s a sad time both for investors in Russia, and for all those who still hope that Russia will develop along more or less Western lines. Both the symbols and habits of autocracy … Continue reading Fruits of Good Governance
Good Government? Not in Russia…
The resumption of capital flight from Russia is a predictable response to the Russian government’s onslaught on the Yukos oil company and its creator, Michael Khodorkovsky. It’s a sad time both for investors in Russia, and for all those who still hope that Russia will develop along more or less Western lines. Both the symbols … Continue reading Good Government? Not in Russia…
Engine of Growth
In Defence of Globalisation Jagdish Bhagwati Oxford University Press, 324pp, £17.99 ISBN 0195170253 Why Globalisation Works Martin Wolf Yale University Press, 398pp, £19.99 These two books offer a defence of globalisation against its critics. Both cover much the same ground, though with differing emphases. Martin Wolf, a noted economics columnist at the Financial Times, has … Continue reading Engine of Growth
Economic development + equality = democracy?
In my last column, I discussed the impact of rich natural resources on economic growth. I pointed out that they can keep a country poor, by slowing down the development of human capital. Today I want to carry the argument further by considering the impact of rich natural resources on the political system, and particularly … Continue reading Economic development + equality = democracy?
Robert Skidelsky 