Understanding Russia

The exceptionally wide gulf between rulers and ruled that characterises Russia was created when the Vikings conquered the Slavs in the ninth century. This was consolidated when an elite of Viking descent forced Orthodox baptism on the Slavs, and later imposed Byzantine ideology. In its attempt to foster its own political and economic models in Russia the West committed a blunder. A study of opinion polls found that Russians now want a blend of tsarism, communism and Stalinism. Understanding Russia Part One: Vikings and Despots Part Two: Revolution, Regression, Putin's Burden, Western Blunder