http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/2009/10/18/united-russia-looks-east/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=united-russia-looks-east Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:09:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/2009/10/18/united-russia-looks-east/comment-page-1/#comment-147 John Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:19:24 +0000 http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/?p=305#comment-147 I am not familiar with the Russia case so I am relying on knowledge of China and its "learning", but it seems that applicability and desirability are not related. While the PAP may provide an intriguing model for the CCP, I suspect few within the party believe the Singaporean and Chinese experiences are comparable. In the particular case given by Shambaugh, the PAP example is used to solve the CCP's accountability problem by suggesting the key to the PAP's efficiency is the "Damoclean Sword" of elections. Singapore is a safe way for reformers within the party to broach the subject of elections, while still supporting the CCP's dominant position in China. What I took from the NY Times story was not that Putin's party can or will take on some of the organizational characteristics of the CCP, but rather confirmation of the pessimism many feel about the potential for democracy in Russia. I am not familiar with the Russia case so I am relying on knowledge of China and its “learning”, but it seems that applicability and desirability are not related. While the PAP may provide an intriguing model for the CCP, I suspect few within the party believe the Singaporean and Chinese experiences are comparable. In the particular case given by Shambaugh, the PAP example is used to solve the CCP’s accountability problem by suggesting the key to the PAP’s efficiency is the “Damoclean Sword” of elections. Singapore is a safe way for reformers within the party to broach the subject of elections, while still supporting the CCP’s dominant position in China. What I took from the NY Times story was not that Putin’s party can or will take on some of the organizational characteristics of the CCP, but rather confirmation of the pessimism many feel about the potential for democracy in Russia.

]]> http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/2009/10/18/united-russia-looks-east/comment-page-1/#comment-145 Barak Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:41:26 +0000 http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/?p=305#comment-145 I am far from certain that the CCP can provide guidance for United Russia. The CCP, for all it's flaws, can mobilize the Chinese population and has a chain of delegation that spans from the very top of society to the poorest, rural, and most isolated villages. I doubt United Russia could mobilzie Russian society to such an extent, but perhaps I am wrong. I am far from certain that the CCP can provide guidance for United Russia. The CCP, for all it’s flaws, can mobilize the Chinese population and has a chain of delegation that spans from the very top of society to the poorest, rural, and most isolated villages. I doubt United Russia could mobilzie Russian society to such an extent, but perhaps I am wrong.

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