(aangeboden aan The Moscow Times op 23 oktober 2020)
It’s an understatement to say that 2020 is a turbulent
year. In addition to the Covid-19 pandemic the world is witnessing popular
revolts in countries as diverse as Belarus, Thailand, Nigeria and Kyrgyzstan.
Not to mention large scale demonstrations in numerous other countries, not in
the least in the USA. Revolts and demonstrations that if not caused by, often
can be related to the ongoing, and even worsening, global health crisis. With
its resulting increasing levels of poverty everywhere.
What does this – alarming – situation actually mean for Russia?