http://www.opendemocracy.net/russia/article/Russia-the-European-factor Comments for "Russia: the European factor, Alexei Makarkin " en http://www.opendemocracy.net/russia/article/Russia-the-European-factor <p> Europe is Russia&#39;s historic neighbour as well as being part of its own identity. St Petersburg, for instance, is a distinctly European city. Europe is both a role model and an object of phobias. This ambivalence has characterised various periods of our national history. </p> <p> Today, fundamental differences set Russia apart from Europe. There is the weakness of our institutions, as well as our different understanding of democracy. Our transition from authoritarian socialism to a market economy was also significantly different from that of the European countries of the Soviet empire. These factors all have serious historical roots which affect the national mentality. </p>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.opendemocracy.net/russia/article/Russia-the-European-factor" class="read-more" title="Read the rest of this posting.">Read the rest of this post...</a><p><a href="http://www.opendemocracy.net/russia/article/Russia-the-European-factor">read more</a></p> http://www.opendemocracy.net/russia/article/Russia-the-European-factor#comment Russia-theme russia democracy &amp; power Alexei Makarkin Creative Commons normal institutions &amp; government Russia Tue, 13 May 2008 12:58:00 +0100 Alexei Makarkin 44582 at http://www.opendemocracy.net