Putin encircles Turkey in massive troop buildup

[Spock]

6 hours ago, other one said:

Is Russia a democratic or communist country?

Does Russia have a parliament and if it does why is everyone scared of Vladimir Putin ?
How can he inforce a "communist" rule by not allowing press freedom even though Russia is a "democratic country".

 

8 Answers

 

Darrell Francis, International Administration MA

17.3k Views

 

 

The question presents a false dichotomy. Democracy is primarily a political system while communism is primarily an economic system. Democracy and communism can exist together, in exclusion of one another, or neither may exist. While historically, they have generally existed in exclusion, there is no reason exceptions can't exist.

Nothing about modern Russia is communist. It is not a classless society where all property is communally-owned. It is a capitalist society wherein people own private property, businesses make profits, and workers are paid wages.

Russia is technically a democracy because its leaders are elected, but it's very flawed democracy as elections are rigged and opposition is stifled. Russia lacks many of the qualities we associate with liberal democracy, primarily the protection of individual rights and free press.

Russia has a parliament called the State Duma, however, the party in control is Putin's own party, United Russia, and they rarely, if ever, oppose Putin or restrict his powers. The Duma is essentially a rubber stamp, which only serves to lend Putin legitimacy.

For future reference, government's which restrict freedoms or have strong central rulers are typically called authoritarian or totalitarian, and are not necessarily communist.

Thanks for sharing this great article. Very wise words to help us figure out what exactly the Great Bear really is today. 

[Spock]

6 hours ago, other one said:

do you realize that the west promised Russia that NATO would not go into Ukraine, and our own CIA was responsible for the overthrow of the Ukraine Government that started this whole mess.

Is this true?  Do you have more?

[Spock]

7 hours ago, MorningGlory said:

Putin probably does hate ISIS but his military is not concentrating on taking them out but, rather, the rebels acting against Assad.  It's in the news every day.  Putin is a dictator and he's a communist.  Anyone who doesn't see that isn't looking.  Ask the people in Ukraine.

MG, you may be right, and my eyes are open, but I'm getting mixed signals here. I'm always open to reading more and processing new information. 

[Spock]

7 hours ago, MorningGlory said:

No, a person can be a communist and still be a good person.  However, communism is an atheist ideology.  I have asked if a couple of people were communists because of their statements about Putin.  There are others that praise him that I KNOW are believers though.

MG, I see Communism dealing more with economics and not religion, but I agree, it does seem like most of the communist countries are atheistic. China and Russia being the main two of history. 

[other one]

3 hours ago, Spock said:

Is this true?  Do you have more?

http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2015/january/01/oliver-stone-cia-fingerprints-all-over-ukraine-coup/

[other one]

3 hours ago, Spock said:

MG, I see Communism dealing more with economics and not religion, but I agree, it does seem like most of the communist countries are atheistic. China and Russia being the main two of history. 

about 50% of the Russian people claim to be Christians....  including Putin himself.

[tigger398]

Ok I don't understand this. So why is it so bad.

[Spock]

1 hour ago, other one said:

about 50% of the Russian people claim to be Christians....  including Putin himself.

They are not communist now.

were 50% of the people Christian under Stalin or Khrushchev? 

[Spock]

2 hours ago, other one said:

http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2015/january/01/oliver-stone-cia-fingerprints-all-over-ukraine-coup/

Well, that is interesting read, but not enough to convince me.  Why would USA want that dude deposed? What gain is it for USA?