Alexey Melnikov, YABLOKO Bureau member, on the choice between the “European way” and the “Eurasian project”
Znak, by Alexey Melnikov, 03.12.2013
The “Eurasian project” [promoted by the Kremlin and aiming at taking Russia away from the European values and brining it closer to authoritarian Asian regimes], in various forms and from time to time promoted by the Russian rulers hides their lack of large-scale political idea about the future of the country and is designed to preserve the outdated political system of our state. In general, this field of public policy is a waste of Russia’s historical time, scattering limited resources on trivia and theft of a complicated, but a decent future from generations of Russians.

If we take the view that state entities, in addition to solving immediate problems, implement certain values, then we can we say about the desire of Russian authoritarian authorities to carry out joint policies with regimes of the same type? Perhaps only that the slogan “power is everything and people are garbage” represents a hidden ideological basis of such a political entity.

The best example of the deadlock of the “Eurasian integration”, an indicator of an ill-conceived approach, is a never ending romance of the authoritarian Russian authorities with the overripened Belarusian regime.

Those who want to make sure that the “Eurasian integration” based on fruitless confrontation with Europe and the West in general, is a fatuous thing, will find here obvious insignificance of the results, and resources wasted be Russia for the past 20 years, as well as, finally, absolute political invalidism of the high communicating parties. This is a “Eurasian Union” in miniature.
We can state with certainty that the same is in store for Russian citizens provided the sovereign rulers would desire to create a bastion with the centre in Moscow which would oppose the Western world. Do you want us to follow you? Then pay us. And we will see how it will be further, but the money should be paid in advance!

Such policies are necessarily limited by the economic opportunities available to the country: when they shrink, such policies begin crumbling too. Today, we can see that Russia’s economic potential is not limitless, as some could think about in on the turn of 2000s.

An alternative to the “Eurasian integration” is movement towards the Western world based on a deep political, economic and – even wider – social reform in our country, adoption of the values of freedom, justice, democracy, human rights and the rule of law which is equal for all as key public institutions for our state.

This is a difficult decision. Because the issue is not as if there were a society desiring implementation of these values and the authorities with differing views that are opposing the society.

The problem is that, despite the revival of the past two years, both the political opposition together with “dissatisfied citizens” and the remaining inert majority of society do not obviously target at following these values. They are unaware of these values, moreover they do not understood that rebuilding our country on the basis of these values will take much effort. The top and the bottom [of the society] and most of the opposition are in the same situation here.

Therefore, it may seem strange at first glance, but the dead-end vector of the “Eurasian integration”, and the attempts not to let Ukraine join Europe, as well as the inner decay of the Russian socio-political system in the forms of conservatism of the authorities and growing nationalism of the opposition are the parts of the same process. And it has filled in the ideological vacuum.

When people talk about Russia’s integration with Europe as an alternative to [Vladimir Putin’s] “Eurasian integration”, some may retort that “we are large and small Europe” and “Europe will never admit us”. But all these are untimely questions, they do not belong to the present policies.

Today the main task for us is internal restructuring of the country on the basis of values that are common for us with Europe and, more broadly, with the Western world. The forms of integration will virtually be determined by the level of welfare of our citizens, firmness of implanting of liberal democratic institutions and understanding of the goals that are common with the West. But this does not mean that Russia should be closed to the Western world and make to whole way towards common values all by its own: globalisation is the most important channel for acceleration of Russia’s restructuring.

Another interesting question is whether such a process is inevitable. Probably not. The European integration path is very difficult for Russia and it has alternatives, one of which is tiring ‘galloping’ through “Eurasian” concepts.

The choice [of the country] depends on the majority of our citizens, on what views and what way they would choose for themselves. In our country people are used to assume that the authorities make the decisions, and there is no personal responsibility of the people.

What if Russian citizens do not want to actively seek not just a “change of the regime” but a deep transformation of society based on the values of freedom, justice, democracy, human rights and law which should be equal for all? What if they are not going to demand from politicians not just becoming an “opposition” but a clear declaration of European values? What if they continue to believe that “nothing depends on me”, “it is easier like this”, “we do not need this Europe” and that “America is our enemy,” etc.?

Then they will get ongoing inner decay and one of its consequences – the “Eurasian union” with the same states. Probably, it is more comfortable to rot together. Anyway it does not require much effort.

Alexei Melnikov is member of the Bureau of the YABLOKO party. Born on April 8, 1964, graduated from the Lomonosov Moscow State University, economist. Deputy of the State Duma of the first – third convocations. One of the organisers and member of the Board of Trustees of the Business Perspective Foundation (engaged in protection of the rights of entrepreneurs).