Russian Democracy and Economic Development : Advancement under the Putin’s Administration

There has been ardent discussions on the nature of Russian democracy after inauguration of the President, Putin, but the negative side is major trend among the whole critics on Russian politics in the western society. This paper has a purpose to maintain realistic viewpoint rather than pessimistic, or optimistic standpoint, with an incremental perspective on the characteristics of the Putin’s reform. For a long time, it is supposed that Russians have their own traditions related to the notion of democracy, different with the one of the West. This Russian style notion is kept in the minds of Russian people even after the beginning of democratic reforms. Throughout the 1990s, under Yeltsin’s leadership, some feared that Yeltsin had means to build another authoritarian state, while Yeltsin may not have developed into a model democrat, neither did he turn out to be a dictator. Following his ascension to the presidency, Vladimir Putin has made great strides in strengthening the Russian state, while he is to be commended for putting an end to the chaos and disorder that characterized Yeltsin’s Russia. Especially in the realm of the correlations between economic development and democracy, the proportionalities are higher in modern Russia than in any periods of the past. Finally, the main themes of Russia from a comparative perspective on transition to democracy are like these. Firstly, Russia is in the somewhat different stage on the spectrum of democracy, compared with the countries that accomplished the transition to democracy. Secondly, the relationship between democratization and economic development has co‐relational pattern in Russia. Thirdly, the most important factor in transition to democratic system is the leader factor in Russia and leadership’s pragmatic policy line is decisive to success in initial stage of democratization and economic development.