"The Essential Vladimir Putin"

Anatol Lieven, the author of the above-titled article in the January/February issue of Foreign Policy, suggests that Russia's best hope for the future may be the continued semiauthoritarian rule of Putin. I think he offers some interesting explanations for Russia's slow progress towards a western-style democracy.
--We may have concerns about Putin's authoritarian ways, but there is no one waiting in the wings that would speed reform. Any replacement would probably be more nationalistic and anti-Western than less-so.
--We should expect Russia's transition to be slower, given its size and huge ethnic diversity.
--The 1990s brought economic decline, social and moral chaos, and corruption. As a result, many Russians question the goals of economic and political reform. Consequently, it has been difficult for a reform political party to establish itself.
--Most Russians are not willing to subject themselves to the additional sacrifices that economic reform would bring. They feel that they have suffered enough. (The New York Times posted an article today about widespread protests in Russia against a new law abolishing many social benefits for pensioners, veterans, and those with disabilities.)
--The 1990s also brought the domination of Russia by oligarchs who exert a strong influence over the mass media, judiciary, and parliament. There is a concern that the appearance of democracy could be used to plunder the state.
--So....to what extent should we push Russia on reform issues? What are the diplomatic implications for the United States and Russia?

Tsunami

The aftermath of the tsunami that occurred in South Asia on December 26 is almost beyond description. The scale of devastation and the suffering that has followed goes beyond anything we have witnessed in modern history. Simon Winchester (who wrote Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded) wrote an interesting Op-Ed piece for the New York Times. He points out that we are going through a period of increased seismic activity and points to the earthquake that occurred at Bam, Iran a year ago as well as several other events. The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 was accompanied by a similar period of activity.

Most tsunamis occur in the Pacific—a fact that may help to explain the lack of an early warning system in the Indian Ocean. The image of a 500 mph tsunami bearing down on heavily populated coastal areas is enough to get us thinking about our own early warning system.

International efforts have been impressive. There is a realization that the tragedy is still unfolding and that speed is of the essence. It is a bit frustrating to see this initially turned into a political football, but the finger-pointing seemed to die down pretty quickly. Some have suggested that this is a big enough event to change the way we deal with each other as nations. I am hesitant to go quite that far, but there is the potential for some good will to come of this.

The tsunami has devastated the fragile economies of these coastal areas, and the cost of rebuilding will impose an added burden on the governments involved. A suspension of foreign debt payments will help, but the task remains a huge one. Tourism is important to the economies of these areas, but it may be some time before that sector recovers.

Blog Geography

The purpose of this weblog is to provide a forum for discussion of real-world applications of concepts and events that are discussed in my regional and A.P. Human Geography. It is appropriate to begin with the topic of blogging and its potential for influencing politics and culture. I became intrigued with the blogging phenomenon during last fall's election when I found myself dropping in on several blogs in an attempt to make sense of what was being reported in the mainstream media. The November/December issue of Foreign Policy magazine had an interesting article on blogs. A summary of the major points in that article might provide the context for some good discussion.

--In 1999, an estimated 50 blogs existed. Today the estimates range from 2.4 million to 4.1 million. Once the domain of web-savvy teenagers, blogs are increasingly influencing politics and the reporting of national and international issues.

--Although the blogosphere by nature has no central organization, a hierarchical structure has emerged. Some blogs have achieved a wide readership because they are linked to on other websites. This process helps to sort the interesting from the mundane. The elite blogs then act as focal points for discussion and analysis as well as a feedback mechanism for the mainstream media.

--Blogs can provide an outlet for individuals who might not otherwise be heard. University of Michigan professor Juan Cole ( a Middle East expert) started his own blog after having difficulty getting published. His blog caught on, and Cole has since become a "public intellectual," sought out by media outlets and government groups seeking information.

--Bloggers can post their reactions to events quickly—before other forms of media can respond. This speed can create some inaccuracies, but these are overcome quickly as readers are quick to pin them down on the facts. Blogs can also act as fact checkers for mainstream media. The controversy over CBS' decision to use unauthenticated documents in a story about George W. Bush's National Guard duty is a case in point.

-- Blogs are beginning to emerge in countries where governments control the media. While repressive government can make blogging more difficult, bloggers can take their case to a transnational network of advocates. (Note: Farsi is the fourth most widely used language among blogs worldwide.)

--The blogosphere remains dominated by the developed world. Demographically blogs are dominated by middle class white males. Like the mainstream media, they tend to ignore large parts of the world.


The geographic implications of this new form of communication are far-reaching. It affects the way ideas are formed and diffuse. Its ability to transcend political boundaries represents a challenge to the authority of the state. It is difficult to mount a disinformation campaign if the public has access to an alternate view of the facts.