Spring Break
MU professor visits Russia, relates experience to students
Sarah Brewer
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: Campus
The Russian government, foreign elections and Vladimir Putin were all the subjects of discussion Friday afternoon, as Miami University professor Karen Dawisha spoke to an audience of students about her experiences in the former Soviet Union.
Dawisha traveled to Russia because she was invited to the Valdai Discussion Club, which is organized annually by the Russian government. The event brings together approximately 70 academics and journalists from around the world to discuss issues pertinent to modern Russia. The trip took place Sept. 10-14, circling the 2007 Russian parliamentary elections and the 2008 presidential race.
Dawisha, a Miami political science professor and director of the Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies, explained the importance of such a conference.
"The purpose of this was to have academics who know something about Russia to ask questions so that journalists could then ... report them," Dawisha said.
During her trip, Dawisha was able to have a unique experience-a chance to meet Putin, the current president of Russia.
The venues for the Valdai Discussion Club included the Russian cities of Moscow and Kazan, where Dawisha and other participants took part in discussions, meetings and various culture events. In addition to meeting Putin, the guests at the discussion club were also received by the president of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiyev.
Dawisha mentioned being impressed with the fact that Putin did not avoid any of the reporters' questions, however, she did mention that when asked about the issues surrounding regional elections in Russia, Putin merely called his opposition a bunch of "whiners."
Dawisha then touched on various other aspects of Russian elections, namely electoral law, the creation of two Kremlin-backed parties that are able to receive "administrative resources" from the state, as well as the corruption within the elite United Russia party.
She then went on to look at the way the Russian media frames certain political figures-pointing out that most political candidates are incumbents with access to television.
"It is very difficult for anyone not chosen by the Kremlin to succeed," Dawisha said.
She also explained that Russian political parties do not require money to appear on television since the state provides the funds. However, according to Dawisha, they do require money to bribe voters.
Also, the laws intended to crack down on neo-Nazis have been turned against the Kremlin's political opponents-with three anti-Putin activists' arrested over the summer, according to Dawisha.
Miami students in attendance enjoyed the opportunity to hear what Dawisha had to say.
Daniel Doty, a graduate student in political science attending the lecture, said that he found the material interesting.
"Some of the reaction I had was that the more Russia changes the more it stays the same," Doty said. "It's sad it seems normal to the public."
Dawisha traveled to Russia because she was invited to the Valdai Discussion Club, which is organized annually by the Russian government. The event brings together approximately 70 academics and journalists from around the world to discuss issues pertinent to modern Russia. The trip took place Sept. 10-14, circling the 2007 Russian parliamentary elections and the 2008 presidential race.
Dawisha, a Miami political science professor and director of the Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies, explained the importance of such a conference.
"The purpose of this was to have academics who know something about Russia to ask questions so that journalists could then ... report them," Dawisha said.
During her trip, Dawisha was able to have a unique experience-a chance to meet Putin, the current president of Russia.
The venues for the Valdai Discussion Club included the Russian cities of Moscow and Kazan, where Dawisha and other participants took part in discussions, meetings and various culture events. In addition to meeting Putin, the guests at the discussion club were also received by the president of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiyev.
Dawisha mentioned being impressed with the fact that Putin did not avoid any of the reporters' questions, however, she did mention that when asked about the issues surrounding regional elections in Russia, Putin merely called his opposition a bunch of "whiners."
Dawisha then touched on various other aspects of Russian elections, namely electoral law, the creation of two Kremlin-backed parties that are able to receive "administrative resources" from the state, as well as the corruption within the elite United Russia party.
She then went on to look at the way the Russian media frames certain political figures-pointing out that most political candidates are incumbents with access to television.
"It is very difficult for anyone not chosen by the Kremlin to succeed," Dawisha said.
She also explained that Russian political parties do not require money to appear on television since the state provides the funds. However, according to Dawisha, they do require money to bribe voters.
Also, the laws intended to crack down on neo-Nazis have been turned against the Kremlin's political opponents-with three anti-Putin activists' arrested over the summer, according to Dawisha.
Miami students in attendance enjoyed the opportunity to hear what Dawisha had to say.
Daniel Doty, a graduate student in political science attending the lecture, said that he found the material interesting.
"Some of the reaction I had was that the more Russia changes the more it stays the same," Doty said. "It's sad it seems normal to the public."
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