I am not sure if I share this culturalist take on why the Russians won't protest. In the 1980s and early 1990s they seemed very capable of protesting. They also staged revolutions in 1905 and 1917.
I think that Putin has consolidated power very effectively through his network of secret services and oligarchs. And he benefitted from the fact that the Yeltsin era was a period of turmoil, so many Russians see democracy as messy and chaotic.
There are also ultranationalist, religious extremist and militarist elements that provide support for Putin.
Even in democratic countries we see the rise of authoritarianism. If we can't keep what we have, it's hard to blame pro democracy Russians for not being able to organise a revolution in such a tightly controlled and corrupt authoritarian system.
I am not sure if I share this culturalist take on why the Russians won't protest. In the 1980s and early 1990s they seemed very capable of protesting. They also staged revolutions in 1905 and 1917.
I think that Putin has consolidated power very effectively through his network of secret services and oligarchs. And he benefitted from the fact that the Yeltsin era was a period of turmoil, so many Russians see democracy as messy and chaotic.
There are also ultranationalist, religious extremist and militarist elements that provide support for Putin.
Even in democratic countries we see the rise of authoritarianism. If we can't keep what we have, it's hard to blame pro democracy Russians for not being able to organise a revolution in such a tightly controlled and corrupt authoritarian system.