Pity the poor modern historian, who has to explain the seemingly illogical logic of Russia’s trajectory, which stands in defiance of all settled knowledge about the rise and fall of states. Russia presents us with the bizarre, albeit fascinating, case of a state that has found a way to survive despite having exhausted its systemic resources and lost its historical perspective. Just consider: The Russian system, despite having rejected all the key principles of modernity, not only continues to limp ahead with its personalized power construct; it has also succeeded in shaking the foundations of global order and creating a …read more
Source: The American Interest
