A New War to Fight
Russia’s engagement in Syria gives it a first-mover advantage in terms of global political bargaining. However, in order to use this chip, Moscow needs a successful outcome from the operation because leaving Syria without a success could damage the leadership’s reputation. That puts the Kremlin in the middle of an international debate, risking its current partnerships as well as damaging strategic relations.
A broad range of NGO and civil society leaders’ engagement initiatives endorsed by the presidential administration and carried out by the Public Chamber and the United People’s Front are aimed at establishing dialogue channels between the government and the general public. As traditional parliamentary channels fail, the ruling elite is forced to use independent communication channels.
The regional governors’ election schedule is undergoing changes as there are too many unpopular governors scheduled to face a vote just half a year prior to the March 2018 presidential election. In order to clear the election schedule of potentially damaging campaigns, the presidential administration is forcing such governors to resign earlier so that the regional elections coincide with the national parliamentary elections taking place in September 2016.
The general public has become more supportive of the armed forces, trusting that this institution can help young men develop both physically and morally. This new attitude demonstrates a drastic change compared to the late Soviet period.
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