Book review on russia and democracy

Taking a brief political look on matters around the world, Russia is one of the countries that have been affected by various political sways that have even affected its governance, especially in the 20th century. One of the major reasons being the fact that it is the largest country across the world, achieving a stabilized political stand over the years hasn’t been easy for it, as it has been through attempted coup de tats, authoritarian and dictator leaderships and even bureaucracy in its rule of administration.
Over years, different approached have been used in pursuit for political liberalism. Achieving political liberalism started in the early 20th century with application of force and this led to wars, for example the Bolshevik Wars which wanted to achieve revolutions through launching rebellions. However, during this period of war (1917), power in Russia was based on the Tsars leadership. These were forms of emperors who ruled over the former United Social Soviet Union and this therefore meant that since power was based on emperors and kingdoms, the law was bureaucratic and rigid since power and leadership was passed from Tsars to their successors, and this meant that bringing in change in leadership was difficult due to the bureaucratic nature of the law and leadership.
This resulted to a consequent overthrow of power, but the consequent leadership under Salin was just as bureaucratic and authoritative as the preceding two, as it was established on a totalitarian leadership characterized by total political, social and economical control under communism. However, leadership under Mikhail Gorbachev as general Secretary in 1985-91 was the turning point for Russia, as he launched reform programs including economic decentralization, socialism, disbanding of monopoly in business, exercise of democracy for example through competitive elections and general restructuring of the country’s political platform, and changes which have led the country to achieve a relatively liberal democracy in the 20th century. It was also during his term as the country’s Secretary General that the United Social Soviet Union was disbanded which led to the formation of Russia as a sovereign state. Mikhail Gorbachev was also able to form diplomatic relations between Russia and other states across the world who had maintained feud and cold blood enmity with the country, both in Europe and American continents, for example through the Summits Conferences he had with the American President Ronald Reagan.
Since 1994 when Gorbachev left office as the country’s Secretary General, Russia has been able to create diplomatic relations with a number of countries across the world. However, there is still a long way to go since the country has not been able to effectively create relations especially commercial ones with a number of countries across the world. In deed Russia has come a long way and looking at the far it has come from authoritarian and bureaucratic rule to the currently democratic one, achieving political liberalism and social freedom will over time be achieved.

Works cited

Hauss, Charles. Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges. 7th Ed. Thomson/Wadsworth, 2009. Print.