Why Russia will change for the better

OP-ED: Darkness on the Edge of Monotown, By LEON ARON, New York Times, October 16, 2009

Good exploration of a huge hidden problem in Russia:

Yet on the inside the country remains dangerously close to a serious breakdown of authority. In addition to the Muslim North Caucasus, which is already barely governable, the most vulnerable places are the company towns, which could catalyze a nationwide explosion of political turmoil.

Products of Stalinist industrialization, an estimated 460 company towns grew around a single plant or factory. Hence their Russian designation: "monotowns" (monogoroda). Most were erected, often by prison labor, in the middle of nowhere and in complete disregard for long-term urban viability, not to mention the needs and conveniences of the workers and their families. In addition to being the single employer, these "town-forming enterprises" are responsible for providing all social services and amenities, from clinics and schools to heat, water and electricity, for populations of 5,000 to 700,000. (There are also more than 1,000 similar but smaller "workers' settlements.")

Remember that when you hear about a "resurgent" Russia.

No easy answers here:

This could be catastrophic: after all, a quarter of the urban population -- 25 million people -- live in monotowns and produce up to 40 percent of Russia's G.D.P. And these struggling workers embody Russia's work force: largely immobile, because the lack of affordable housing makes it impossible to seek employment elsewhere, and sadly inflexible, thanks to their overdependence on these paternalistic, enterprise-based social services, part of what President Medvedev has denounced as the "Soviet-style social sphere." Indeed, the monotowns seem more and more a bellwether of the national trend toward deepening impoverishment and further job losses.

Russia is destined to change politically for the better. Why? Because it's a practical way out of this wilderness, as Aron makes clear.

Comments

[Guest469]

Russia is destined to change politically for the better. Why? Because it's a practical way out of this wilderness, as Aron makes clear.

Can you explain how "change politically" will solve the monogoroda problem? How does a game of political musical chairs change the fact that the house is on fire?If the solution is low cost housing then how will a "wave of nationwide protests" and political change help build them?Slogans may elect presidents but they don't feed mouths or fix dysfunctional economies.

In fact the author astutely notes that :There may, in fact, be nothing that can be done to prevent these ticking time bombs from exploding.

A crisis may bring a Color revolution to Russia, but not necessarily the color you want.