[Krauter]

Originally Posted by CCIP

I think you do have to take into account the history of Russians after the revolution, too. The damage done by the Civil War, Stalin's Purges, and WWII, the Cold War years, the painful dissolution of the USSR and the social collapse of the 1990s is something that still reverberates today and is difficult for Russians to get over. The collective psyche of Russians is too damaged by all that to even begin of thinking of revolt for the sake of freedom, fairness and national progress - food, shelter, and something definite to look forward to tomorrow is already big progress for them. The support for Putin & co. in Russia is genuine, because it brings a sense of stability. It only helps, of course, that the vast majority live in poverty and in that 'survival mode' even some sense of stability looks like a blessing. For any sort of uprising or reform, you're not gonna motivate anyone with just promises of freedom and fairness. The only things that will do that are either economic and social improvement for the impoverished majority that'll get their minds out of 'survival mode', or another total collapse. Neither looks very likely, and the current regime isn't really interested in either.

Originally Posted by CCIP

...wait until the Soviet brass starts dying off, with newer generations of officers hopefully being a little more forward-thinking.

These two points are pretty spot on if I can say so myself.