Russia provides a troubling example. This is what it really looks like when a country's leader decides to use terrorism as an excuse to destroy liberty and democratic government. Putin is using the need for a response against terrorism as an excuse to revamp the structure of local government, and move from direct election of representatives to party lists:
The newest moves take a vision he calls "managed democracy" to a new level. Although governors in Russia's 89 regions have been elected since 1995, Putin's plan would give the president the right to appoint them, subject to confirmation by local legislatures.
At the same time, the State Duma, or lower house of parliament, would consist only of members elected from party lists, meaning that political parties such as Putin's United Russia would exercise exclusive control over everyone who runs for election.
A good discussion of this is found at The Moderate Voice. We have never been in a much of a position to shape Russian internal politics. Usually the best we can do is shake things up by providing external shocks. But as much as we can, we need to encourage Putin and Russia not to return to long term authoritarian structures.
"This is what it really looks like when a country's leader decides to use terrorism as an excuse to destroy liberty and democratic government."
Agreed, but slightly wary of the word 'really' there. Not wishing to read too deeply between the lines of the post, are you insinuating that the current situation in the USA is not 'really' a leader using terrorism as an excuse for, at least, attacking civil liberties and democratic government?
Posted by: McDuff | September 14, 2004 at 10:07 AM