Evaluating the Counter G8
There are plenty of evaluations coming out about Russia and the G8. What did Putin gain? What did he lose? Does it matter? Let’s put the successes and failures of the state aside and think about the opposition. There were two “counter-conferences” held in St. Petersburg last week: the Other Russia Conference and the Russian Social Forum. The former was a motley assemblage of liberal reformers, presidential hopefuls, nationalists and other colorful figures. The latter composed of mostly radical leftist, anti-globalist youths looking for a world without capital. Both hoped to pose alternative visions to the Kremlin. Both, however, currently stand completely outside the electoral process. Other Russia received loads of Western media attention, but was virtually ignored by the Kremlin. The Russian Social Forum got some decent media play, but mostly arrests and being caged in the Kriov ..read more
