Russia: Can It Adapt to the Rapidly Changing World?

Tuesday, October 11, 2011, 11.45–13.15, Žofín Palace, Conference Hall

Keynote Speech:

Boris Nemtsov, Politician and Opposition Leader, Russia

Moderator:

Josef Pazderka, Journalist, Czech Television, Czech Republic

Panel Discussion:

Bobo Lo, Independent Scholar and Consultant on Russia and China, United Kingdom/Australia

Gregory Feifer, Senior Correspondent, RFE/RL, Czech Republic/USA

Luboš Dobrovský, Former Ambassador to Russia, Czech Republic

 

Boris Nemtsov emphasized the need for the modernization of Russia. He highlighted the fact that modernization cannot only involve economic changes, but it also needs to include political and social changes as well. Unlike Kremlin, which talked about following the Chinese model, Nemtsov, on behalf of the opposition, stated that he sees this way as impossible in regards to cultural and historical differences.

 

Bobo Lo discussed the position of Russia in the global system and listed several challenges Russia has to cope with in order to reinvent itself as a global power. However, he stated that “Russia’s future is as a soft power”. He emphasized that “if Russia wants to be a global power, changes have to start from within”. Gregory Feifer drew attention to the fact that Russia is not a homogenous state, but includes territories that are culturally, ethically and religiously different; in some areas people do not even identify themselves with the Russian state.

 

Luboš Dobrovský presented a critical view of the Western attitude towards Russian political representation; he pointed out that the current political elites do not represent the whole of Russia. All the panelists agreed that the “brain drain” is a serious problem for Russia, as many young people, even those from privileged circles around Vladimir Putin, leave the country without the thoughts of coming back. The regime’s stability was also noted during the discussion; Gregory Feifer added that the regime is “inherently unstable, but more stable than many people in the West allow”.