Крутые горки XXI века: Постмодернизация и проблемы России

Summary

Travin, Dmitriy

RUSSIAN MOUNTAINS OF THE XXI CENTURY:

POSTMODERNIZATION AND THE PROBLEMS OF RUSSIA

St. Petersburg: EUSP Press, 2015. 294 p.

ISBN 978-5-94380-200-3

In this book, presented to a reader’s attention, the most important changes that have happened in the world during the last decades are analyzed. These changes are so significant, that using Ronald Inglehart's definition we should refer to them as postmodernization rather than modernization. Russia in the present moment gives a hostile reception to postmodernization, denies many important changes and refuses to accept many reforms that are important for the development. It also gives preference to the conservative values that dooms the country to stagnation. In general the society has a vague idea about the real process of the world development. The primary objective of the book is to demonstrate a key trend of postmodemization in the XXI century and define the problems that Russia dooms itself for by ignoring the facts and realities.

The first chapter deals with a complex of economic problems related to the globalization process. Here we talk about capital flows in the modem economy and a necessity of creating congenial investment climate to raise capital. Unfavorable investment environment was created in Russia. During the last years the situation has worsened due to implication of the country into a serious international conflict that had such negative consequences as the economic sanctions.

Keeping on with this strategy may have disastrous effects for Russian economy. GDP growth is actually possible only at the cost of the high prices of energy products which are the basic products of Russia's export. But today alternative energy technologies are being developed in the world. In the future it will make serious problems for the development of Russia 's traditional economy development.

The second chapter deals with political problems, democracy development in particular. Here we talk about the fact that democracy is not a panacea for all the diseases of the epoch, but in many cases it can help to solve serious problems. One of such problems for Russia is corruption. Denying that society democratization is necessary, Russian authorities sentence themselves to fight against it using only administrative methods. In this case the society is passive and public officials control each other. Experience has demonstrated that such an approach doesn’t give positive results. Today Russia needs a transition from electoral authoritarianism system to a real democracy.

The third chapter deals with social problems. First, it talks about formation of the so-called creative class. This phenomenon was described by Richard Florida in his books. In Russia its creation is difficult, because the creative class needs freedom. Brain drain is a problem of the countries with authoritarian regimes where the conservative values are being imposed.

The creative class problem is closely related to the problem of megaregions favorable for a social and economic development. If the North America and Europe today there are two dozens of such mega-regions, in Russia we can barely talk about one or two.

In the fourth chapter personality problems are analyzed. In particular it talks about the fact that in the XXI century there are more and more people living alone. This trend enters into a conflict with conservative values (implying obligatory preservation of the traditional family). The society can evolve if it takes into consideration such changes instead of fighting against them.

And finally, the fifth chapter analyzes international conflicts and a place of Russia in them. A special attention is paid to the formation of two poles, two centers of force of the modem world —USA and China. Russia doesn’t have enough economic potential and cannot claim to be one of such centers like the USSR used to be. A conflict with the USA provokes a rapprochement of Russia with China as a new ally (but actually rather a patron). This trend is dangerous for Russia and for the western world that is interested in partnership relatio.