The last time I was in Russia was in 2004. I visited my hometown Surgut, which is located in Western Siberia, as well as Moscow, the capital of Russia. On my way to Russia, my heart was filled with anticipation and excitement. I recalled with nostalgia leisurely strolls in the heart of Moscow, numerous museums, theatres, and magnificent architecture. So much had changed since the last time I was there.
When I arrived, I stood in front of the city in total disbelief. Where was I? In front of me now was a new and strange world. Most of us are aware that for the second consecutive year, Moscow remains the most expensive city in the world. Various newspapers and magazines talk about the phenomenon of “Novie Russkie”: New Russians or Nouveaux Russes as French would say, who purchase the most expensive real estate, contribute to the significant boost of the high-end retail profits and don’t stop traveling year around across the world. Where does this extreme wealth come from any mind would wonder? I won’t go into deep details, because I am not writing a thesis paper. However, I will attempt to describe very briefly.
First, Russia is the largest country in the world land wise and is abundant in natural resources. Privatization that took place in the early 1990s as one of the essential steps to building a free market economy and democratic society resulted in the creation of so called “new Russians.” Each individual was given a voucher to obtain shares in any domestic enterprise. The masses who have lived under the central planning system and have not understood the mechanism of a free market economy either sold it in the flea market for a few rubles or invested in the Investment Companies that vanished in the first few years. So the former communist party leaders who have become owners of the enterprises (and new entrepreneurs who have purchased a significant share of vouchers from the population or have engaged in trade bringing clothes and other consumption goods from Turkey, United Arabic Emirates, etc.) have become the new Russians. A financial crisis in August 1998, along with a severe depreciation of national currency by 600%, has helped exporting industries. As an emerging economy today, Russia is one of the major exporters of energy resources, timber, coal, metals and etc.
Moscow did not look anything I remembered. It did not look like the heart or soul of Russia but rather a very luxury-based western city with mega malls, more Mercedes and BMWs than in any other European city, and to my great surprise and disappointment angry, rude, arrogant, lost and unhappy people. You may accuse me of being biased, however Moscow is no longer a reflection of Russia and a true Russian character. Russians, despite the history of many cataclysms, remain very warm, kind, and hospital people. However, the people I observed in the streets looked quite opposite of my own thoughts and ideas. Why? I will share my ideas about that in the next blog.
My goal at Belmont is to provoke curiosity and passion for learning among students. The goal of this blog is to provoke a little interest of being globally or internationally aware and broadening our horizons.