Re: Bonapartism now and then

["Chris Doss" <nomorebounces@xxxxxxx>]

On a more serious and less beer-o-centric note, although God knows I want one, I should say that I agree with Peter. If Putin actually did enter politicking, that would wreck his image. He is perceived as the "good tsar" fighting against the "bad boyars."

Putin was placed in power to solidify and stabilize oligarchic capitalism, and he seems to have succeeded -- though not in a way that the people who put him in power planned, it seems. The state has the oligarchy under its heel, not vice-versa.

Now time to go get that beer. Incidentally I should have a short piece up on Peter's site in a few days, if anyone cares. Nothing fancy, just some thoughts on ethnic relations in Russia.

-----Original Message-----
From: Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>
To: PEN-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2004 10:50:07 -0500
Subject: [PEN-L] Bonapartism now and then

> The Passionless Campaigner
> By Peter Lavelle :: Recent publications
> Published on March 10, 2004
> This article was written for Transitions Online
>
> The consummate campaigner who refuses to campaign has shown his appeal
> to almost the entire Russian electorate.
>
> Driven by the contradictory demands of his situation, and being at the
> same time, like a juggler, under the necessity of keeping the public
> gaze on himself, as Napoleon's successor, by springing constant
> surprises   that is to say, under the necessity of arranging a coup
> d'etat in miniature every day   Bonaparte throws the whole bourgeois
> economy into confusion,