For The American Mind, Katya Sedgwick - a Soviet emigre - writes a very interesting appraisal of current conditions in Russia as Putin wins another election by 80+ percent. She has the advantage of an insiders' understanding of the Russian psyche.
Her judgment: Russians are relatively pleased with Putin's rule, and have neither experience with, nor desire for true representative government. While she admits the recent election was largely a sham, she believes Putin could easily win an actual, fair election.
I don't have her insight into the Russian mindset, but what she writes rings true to me. I recommend her column to you.
