Russia's Success Story: Chernomyrdin Pulls It Off

The Russia emerging today is very different from what pessimists have prophesied. It is not falling apart but coming together. The new political institutions function. Strikes are rare, and no serious social unrest is on the horizon. Incredibly, most of the Russian economy, measured by either employment or output, has been privatized in just two years. Russia has already become a market economy, but one in the midst of a long-overdue and massive restructuring. In short, Russia has undergone fundamental changes and appears to be on the right track.

The Western caricature of Russia as a destitute country on the verge of either collapse or falling into the hands of fascists could not be more wrong. Naturally, things are far from perfect, but no one thought communism would go away without costs. In a new openness all problems are discussed in the Russian media, and often exaggerated. But few in the West write about Russia’s successes, like the end of shortages and the risk of famine. Moreover, the true disaster of other former Soviet republics is often confused with Russia’s. Of course major problems such as crime and inflation remain in Russia, but even monthly inflation fell to five percent in June. More daunting is the task of building a system of rule of law, which has been a cumbersome process all over Eastern Europe. The situation is worse in Russia, but far from hopeless.

NATION-BUILDING IS WORKING

Russia’s parliamentary elections in December 1993 left the West in despair. The extreme nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky was touted as Russia’s new leader. In fact, his Liberal Democratic Party gained only 14 percent of the seats in the State Duma, the lower house of the new Federal Assembly, and a bare handful in the Federation Council, the upper chamber. Zhirinovsky’s impact on Russian policy making has been minimal, and his deputies have deserted him in droves. The real winner of the elections has turned out to be Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, a 55-year-old engineer of traditional Soviet stock who was not even a candidate for parliament.