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cial stability in order not to Andrew C. destroy the political-economic Kuchins SPECIAL TO RN order in which modernization is taking place. While these two week of travel with the perspectives are not necessarily Valdai Discussion Club contradictory, it is hard to imag- RUSSIA'S DR. in Russia makes one feel ine modernization not having Aas though he were a significant impact on the ex- along for the ride on Gogol’s Troi- isting political-economic order, since at its heart this process re- SEUSS ka. We were in constant motion on planes, trains, boats and buses quires reform and greater effi- from Sochi to to St. Pe- ciency of key state, business, and “Some very little children tersburg and further north into societal institutions. Irina Zabrodina seem to be actually afraid of THE MOSCOW Karelia. The subject of much of For social scientists, Russia re- TIMES the characters. You have to be our discussions and my further mains a paradox of moderniza- very careful when reading ruminations was Russia’s past and tion theory. One of the key pos- ore than 40 years after Chukovsky to a child — some current efforts at modernization, tulates of modernization theory his death, Kornei very sensitive listeners might a task that Russian President is that as a country’s per capita Chukovsky remains not like it,” said Tatyana Stup- Dmitry Medvedev has made the GDP grows, and the level of Mone of the country’s nikova, a speech therapist for top priority for his leadership. $10,000 is usually noted as a best-loved children’s authors, preschoolers. Poet Anna Like the metaphor of the speed- breakthrough point, it becomes and his classic books such as Akhmatova once said Chuk- ing troika for Russia that Nikolai more democratic—or at least its “Doctor Aibolit,” about a doc- ovsky’s children’s verse was sa- Gogol immortalized in his novel political institutions become tor who speaks to animals, are distic, a charge that has been “Dead Souls” more than 150 more plural. So far Russia is de- still widely read. made about many children’s years ago, there is no consensus fying this law (for which there Every September, fans of the authors, including English writ- in Russia about what the latest is a wealth of evidence from East author take part in a tradition er Roald Dahl. attempt at modernization should Asia to Europe to Latin America started by the author himself Apart from being a chil- consist of. over the past several decades). as the "Goodbye Summer" dren’s author, Chukovsky was The notion of modernization For ten years, including the blip party for children at his dacha also a professional reporter, was the main topic of our three- of the recent financial crisis, Rus- in Peredelkino, outside translator and psychologist, day conference, during which sia’s per capita GDP has grown Moscow.“The campfires at who had a great impact on nearly 100 Russian and interna- and surpassed the $10,000 mile- Chukovsky’s house were set the issue of childhood educa- tional experts and journalists on stone, but Russia is no more up by the author in 1955,” tion. His most famous work the riverboat Kronstadt dis- democratic, corruption has said Sergei Belorusets, head of about children — rather than cussed “Russia’s History and Fu- cated in more efficient ways that There is certainly room for grown, and there is little evi- the Chukovsky children’s fes- for children — is “From Two ture Development.” Two strik- are more responsive to price sig- growth, and this should be en- dence of improved state insti- tival. “His house was always to Five,” which came out in ing impressions emerged from nals and market forces. When couraged by the Russian gov- tutions. Probably this can be full of children; he invented 1933, about children’s speak- these discussions. First, there Russian participants I was told that Russia’s de-mod- ernment, but these sectors will explained to some extent by different games to play with ing abilities. was no agreement about the were tougher in ernization could be tracked by not comprise the principal Russia’s unusual status of being kids.” He was also a writer, who, definition of modernization. their assessments of such an indicator as the drop in growth drivers for the Russian the largest world economy so The tradition was revived 10 according to his diaries (which Some participants emphasized the production of Russian cars economy. As Keith Crane and dependent on energy and nat- years ago, and this year's party are also published in English), the importance of diversification modernization than and many other manufactured Artur Usanov conclude in their ural resource exports. A num- at his dacha marked the the tried to help other Soviet writ- of the economy away from its foreigners. goods from 25 years ago, my excellent analysis of the role of ber of Russians at the confer- 55th anniversary of the first ers when they fell afoul of the heavy dependence on export response was that today more high tech sectors in the recent ence suggested that China’s campfire. authorities. of hydrocarbons and other nat- Russians are driving better cars, book, “Russia after the Global growth supports a new para- Chukovsky wrote short sto- When , who ural commodities. Often this than Russian participants. Even foreign and Russian. Economic Crisis” (co-edited by digm of authoritarian state-led ries and poems, whose “clock- lived not far from Chukovsky was tied to the notion of re-in- the venerable Harvard historian This gets to what I see as an myself, Anders Åslund and Ser- growth. Perhaps, but despite work rhythms and air of mis- in Peredelkino, won the Nobel dustrialization with a particular Richard Pipes was more gener- often fundamental misunder- gei Guriev): “The economic driv- its enormous achievements, Chi- chief and lightness,” as one Prize, Chukovsky was the only emphasis on high technology ous in his assessment of positive standing of what is modern in ers of the past decade will re- na’s per capita GDP remains far critic wrote, have captivated official writer to congratulate and innovation. Others put a change in Russia over the past the Russian context from an eco- main the more important below the 10K milestone, so I children — although not al- him. higher priority on the improve- decades than his Russian col- nomic perspective. There is a drivers of growth: rising produc- would hold off on writing off ways parents. After Chukovsky’s death in ment of governmental, social leagues. Perhaps this reflects a tendency to associate modern- tivity across all sectors; growth modernization theory at this One of his most famous 1969, his dacha was turned and economic institutions to im- more diverse Russian group of ization of the Russian economy in services, especially financial point. poems is “The Crocodile,” into a museum, and visitors prove efficiency and raise Rus- participants than in the past. It with diversification away from and business services; retail and However one defines mod- which he told to his son on a can take tours around the old sian competitiveness. Others is also natural that citizens of reliance on the production and wholesale trade; telecommuni- ernization, it seems incontrovert- train journey. His son remem- wooden house that contains placed at the forefront attention Russia would be more impatient export of energy and natural re- cations; and government expen- ible that it is taking place in Rus- bered the tale, and that was his vast book collection. to the development of human for modernization than outsid- sources. True, such reliance ditures financed by taxes on ex- sia, even if the pace is not how the poem got written Many of the books are in capital. The variety of interpre- ers. There is also a sense that leaves Russia vulnerable to the ported energy.” satisfactory to much of the Rus- down when they returned. English. Before the Revolution, tations reminded me of the late when it comes to Medvedev’s unpredictable vicissitudes of en- And do Prime Minister Vladi- sian political elite. The role of “I like reading Chukovsky to Chukovsky worked as a report- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Pot- modernization, there is a lot ergy and commodity prices. It mir Putin and Medvedev agree reliance on energy and natural my daughter Arina, who is 3 er in London, where he met ter Stewart’s famous line about more talk than action. is also true that heavy reliance about how best to promote resource exports is not so clear years old,” said Valentina Shad- writers H.G. Wells and Arthur hard pornography which I para- I find myself virtually astound- on energy resources often has modernization in Russia? One cut as many suggest. Imagine rina, 34, a housewife. “She en- Conan Doyle. He would later phrase as “I can’t define, but I ed by the degree of progress deleterious effects on the qual- senior Russian government of- if Russia were not blessed with joys the rhythm of the verses translate American poet Walt know it when I see it.” since I started coming to the ity of democratic development ficial assured us that they do, enormous natural resource and memorizes them very Whitman, as well as Daniel The second observation was in 1979. And what and political institutions and although they sometimes use wealth; would it be more “mod- quickly.” Defoe and Rudyard Kipling. that the Russian participants are the key features that lead contributes to higher levels of different vocabularies and ac- ern”? The only thing I can say were far tougher in their assess- me to that conclusion? First, corruption. But the hard fact centuate different aspects of for sure is that it would be a lot ments of Russia's modernization Russia is far more connected and of the matter is that energy and modernization. He elaborated poorer, and likely the political as well as its future prospects integrated with advanced glob- natural resources will remain by noting that Medvedev has entity we know of as Russia EXPAT FILES than their foreign counterparts. al processes; indeed Russia is Russia’s principal economic com- a broad approach to modern- would not exist in the form it is This was a departure from the more open to the outside world parative advantage for a long ization that includes social and today, if at all. past Valdai norm (this marks the and its influences. Secondly, a time to come—at least through political modernization required seventh annual meeting) in higher proportion of Russians the middle of this century. to facilitate economic growth. Andrew C. Kuchins is Direc- IT'S GETTING which foreigners, mostly Euro- are enjoying a higher relative In 2008, high-technology sec- Putin, on the other hand, views tor of the Russia and Eurasia peans and Americans, were far standard of living than at any tors comprised about 3 percent modernization as a long histor- Program at the Center for harsher in their assessments of time in their thousand-year his- of Russian GDP and about 10 ical process in which it is essen- Strategic and International Russia and government policy percent of its industrial output. tial to maintain political and so- HOT IN HERE tory. Resources are being allo- Studies in Washington, D.C.

were replaced by loud thumps Jennifer on the door and shouts to open Eremeeva up for the ZHEK, the custodi- SPECIAL TO Russia without having to apply RUSSIA NOW ans of the building complex. to separate work permits. While “Open up, Woman.” they or- these amendments might seem utumn is here in Rus- dered. less then revolutionary, they sia so of course, I have “I’m not really dressed for it,” BRAIN FREEZE could help to attract more high- dug out my tank tops, I responded through the metal ly qualified foreign professionals Alight linen trousers and door. to Russia. flip-flops. The worst summer “Woman, there is a problem Igor Fedyukin A lot more needs to be done heat wave on record is over, with your heating. We need to SPECIAL in this area to make Russia more TO RUSSIA NOW but now I’m prepared to really see your radiator.” competitive. Russian visa rules sweat. Radiators have begun “The radiator is fine,” I as- few years ago our in- and regulations are still saddled to sputter, hiss and clank as all sured them. “It works beauti- stitution made a huge with completely superfluous re- over Russia as the Central Heat- fully.” breakthrough: For the quirements. For example, for- ing is switched on from one very “Woman, it is not fine. Your Afirst time we hired a for- eigners planning a long-term stay evil central command center. neighbors are complaining. eigner as a tenure-track profes- in Russia must present together The heat is full throttle for the Open the door or we will re- sor. This was a really big deal, with their visa application a med- next eight months, offering my turn with the police.” since foreign-educated academ- ical certificate showing that they own permanent sauna. These officials are, of course, ics are extremely rare at Russian are HIV-negative, whereas those For many years I tried to turn deeply capable of bringing the universities. For us in particular, coming for a short visit do not. down the radiator with various police around. They love to flex it was a welcome sign that we This is not only an appalling act implements of destruction, in- a bit of official muscle and play are competitive enough on the of discrimination, but also a mea- cluding the heel of a boot, a a minor, if not responsible part global market for researchers. sure that makes no practical hammer, and a copy of “Das in a local drama. Bonus points Having sealed the deal, howev- sense at all. Russia’s ability to at- Kapital,” all to no avail. The for nabbing a foreigner. er, we had one small problem tract academics from abroad re- knobs, into which the German So I opened up, resplendent to solve. quires changes in other rules: if prisoners of war who built the in a neon blue masque. They How could we bring our new we want to have a foreign Nobel house clearly poured their re- seemed completely unfazed. colleague into the country? prize-winning professor to teach sentment, remained unyield- “I have,” I told them softly, This was a huge problem. Un- at our university, we should at ing. “a degree in Russian Studies like most countries, Russia does the very least recognize his doc- Then, this past summer, grim from the same university Barack not have a special category of toral degree – currently in order radiators were replaced with Obama attended." “academic” visas to be issued to to receive such recognition he more flashy models with shiny “You are not allowed to turn foreign researchers and profes- would have to translate his dis- red knobs that…. moved. off your radiator,” said one. sors. Until recently, there was a sertation in its entirety and sub- HRH (my Handsome Russian “But it is so hot in here,” I single, all-embracing category of mit it for what is in fact a new Husband) made it clear to me pleaded. visas for all those planning to defense! that, though the radiators were “You have turned off the heat work. As a result, highly skilled While visa regulations are im- new, the heating system was for the entire building. Your professionals frequently had to portant, there is also the issue of not. “Our Soviet heating,” he neighbors have complained to stay in Russia on short-term visas, visa regulations, which might be one must receive a salary of at their implementation. It is one explained, remained something the police, and it will go very and were forced to travel to a construed as a sign of weakness least $67, 000, or 2 million ru- thing to mandate a relaxation of I had no business tinkering with. badly for you if you turn the ra- neighboring country at the end and an invitation for other coun- bles, to fit the bill. immigration laws and to create So of course I turned them diator off again.” of each quarter to apply for a A large segment of tries to demand similar unilater- New measures being dis- new categories of visas; it is quite off. “But how can I make it cool- new permission to entry. Russia’s officialdom al concessions on other issues. cussed for faculty and research- another to actually make Russian The result, while it lasted, was er here?” I pleaded. “You must Indeed, as far as his visa sta- perceives any Yet the seriousness of the prob- ers will, hopefully, solve some of consulates to change their work amazing. It was cool in the be able to do something!” tus is concerned, I still prefer to lem seems to have been recog- the most pressing problems. habits and attitude towards visa flat. It was like the sweet relief They looked at one another follow the “don’t ask, don’t tell” relaxation of visas as nized by the government. Among these measures are the applicants. Still, the very fact that of a desert night after the sun and sighed deeply. policy with my new American an invitation for spies. Amendments to the immigra- proposals to include professors President Medvedev in his ad- has gone down, or the rush of “This isn’t Paris, you know,” colleague. tion laws in May offer preferen- into the category of “highly dress to the parliament last year fresh air when you step out of the other guy finally said. The cumbersome and restric- tial treatment to “highly quali- skilled professionals”; to create openly said that “we need them” a trans-Atlantic flight onto the And on that, we could all tive visa regulations make it ground in the security forces, fied” (and highly paid) foreign an option of receiving an “aca- (i.e. skilled professional from jet way. agree. much harder to attract the best naturally perceive any such po- professionals. These new visa reg- demic visa” in as little as three abroad), and not the other way The Big Chill lasted about a and the brightest from all over tential relaxation as an invitation ulations went into effect this sum- days; to allow foreign scholars around gives some grounds for week. One mid-morning, im- Pat nonullaorem augiamet the world; they have long been for other countries to send more mer - but curiously, they do not in Russia to move more freely cautious optimism. patient rings at the doorbell acidunt lan eugait veriuscip- a significant obstacle to academ- spies into Russia. Others, often apply to researchers and profes- around the country without hav- shattered my peace, so I sim- sum zzriusc illuptat. Ut ipis ic exchanges of all sorts. A large including those who might be sors, who might not necessarily ing to register with the authori- Igor Fedyukin is Director for ply ignored them: nothing good erate tet et lor sum am adipit segment of the Russian official- generally quite liberal, are against qualify as “highly skilled profes- ties at each point they visit; to Policy Studies at the New ever comes from unexpected wis dolore magna con ver ad dom, especially those with back- any unilateral relaxation of the sionals” since under the new law allow their spouses to work in Economic School. rings at the door. The rings tion henim vel endre