The Russian Presidential Elections

Spreker: Prof. A. Gerrits, Professor of Russian History and Politics, Leiden University

In March 2012 the Russians will choose a new president. Or rather, they may agree to a choice that the Kremlin has already made for them: Vladimir Putin.

So why are elections then still held in an authoritarian country like Russia? Why do the rulers put so much effort in putting up a show, to make believe Russia is a democracy? And why is there so little resistance from the Russian people against their rulers? Shortly, how stable really is the political order in Russia?