The recent protests in Russia certainly signal displeasure with Vladimir Putin and staleness in leadership, and a yearning for new ideas, personality and leadership. But the questions are: will the protests lead to change in leadership and/or ideas and will the protest be sustainable? Read the following opinions — conflicting and diverse — from Russia observers. These opinions suggest that we simply do not know the answers.
Professor Mark Katz: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/12/12/is-the-kremlin-loosening-its-grip/is-this-russias-arab-spring
Professor Sergei Guriev: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/12/12/is-the-kremlin-loosening-its-grip/in-russia-more-proof-of-the-internets-power
Kathryn Stoner-Weiss: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/12/12/is-the-kremlin-loosening-its-grip/change-in-russia-is-unlikely
Anders Aslund: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/12/12/is-the-kremlin-loosening-its-grip/russia-seems-on-the-brink-of-democracy
