I was interviewed on BBC World Service last week and we talked about Putin's popularity. I was presented with the following: Putin is popular because the media is "controlled." I laughed! I said media has nothing to do with it. Consider the following: * State workers are paid on time, and wages are keeping up with inflation (and inflation, finally, is under control). * Corruption is a BIG problem in Russia, but corruption impacts the rich more often (they can pay and the risk of corruption is on the rise). * Russia matters in the world again. During the 90s it didn't and Russians attribute Russia's return to the world stage to Putin. * Russia's middle class is growing and it can do what it wants. Travel, leave, buy what they can afford, opt out of politics - ALL without consequences. This is a first in Russian history. * More and more Russians are online and can understand what the world is saying about their country. The result is almost outrage! Most will agree Russia has a long way to go, but Russians are proud of their country and don't see it as a poor relation to the West. In fact, the more contact Russians have with the outside world, the more they see the West as only self-appreciating and holding double standards. * Putin is one heck of a communicator in the eyes of the majority of Russians. Political culture does count. Putin never is on the defensive and when threatened fights back with a "take no prisoners" approach. This is lauded in Russia. Compromise is seen as weakness. * Russians see what the West offers - "Do what you are told and everything will be ok." Western liberalism is completely dismissed here and those Russians listening to the West are dismissed and laughed at. * Russians really resent being characterized as a people who are submissive to authority (as we are told in Western media). In fact, Russians understand the idea and reality of state authority far better then their Western peers - and use this understanding to their advantage. In the end, the Russian state remains very weak. Doug Henwood <dhenwood@panix.com> wrote:<blockquote class="replbq" style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"> <http: //pewresearch.org/obdeck/?obdeckid="103"> The Putin Popularity Score Increasingly Reviled in the West, Russia's Leader Enjoys Broad Support at Home </http:></blockquote> <hr size=1>Have a burning question? Go to <a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTFvbGNhMGE3BF9TAzM5NjU0NTEwOARfcwMzOTY1NDUxMDMEc2VjA21haWxfdGFnbGluZQRzbGsDbWFpbF90YWcx">Yahoo! Answers</a> and get answers from real people who know.