Rival Power

Isn't the idea of spheres of influence outdated?
If there were a new European security architecture we would have no problems—EVERYONE would be in the same security system. I remember we spoke of this [with the first President Bush] but we abandoned it. Clinton began to run with the idea that NATO could participate in conflicts all over the world. Well, sorry, I think they were going a bit far. I think it is very important to allow sovereign governments to take independent decisions regardless of whether they are good or bad at ruling.

Does the Kremlin overestimate Russia's power?
No, they know exactly that Russia is not equal to the U.S.S.R., and not to the U.S. either. We are in different weight categories.

Do you believe that Western criticism of Russian democracy is sincere or cynical?
It is just a way of finding a well-argued excuse for interfering in Russian affairs. At the same time, you are right to criticize. So now what do we do? We are changing the whole economic and political system. And, remember, [we] can't do that in two nights. We are only halfway down the democratic road, but we are going down it.

You are in many senses the father of Russian democracy. Are you saying there is more democratic choice now than in 1991?
I am the great-grandfather of Russian democracy! The electoral system certainly needs reform. We need real competition. I don't like what is happening to the party system.

Why don't Russians seem to like democracy?
People are afraid that things will get worse; they want to let well enough alone. But authorities mustn't kid themselves—PEOPLE are for democracy, polls say so. We are creating a democracy, but it needs [to be] not too biased toward the executive. I say to Americans: you want us to have democratic institutions at same level as yours, but you forget that you spent 200 years making your system, and you want us to do it in 200 days. Yes, Russians are more talented than Americans, but not that much more talented.

© 2009