Russia’s Muzzled Media: Confronting Economic Crisis in the Age of Authoritarianism

Owen Graham / May 07, 2009

Russia’s increasingly authoritarian system, with the vast majority of the media under government-control, discourages the free flow of information. It partially bars reporting on corruption or exposing ill-conceived policies—that could contribute to Russia weathering this economic storm. The information dams are hindering those in the Russian government who are trying to get the message across that the present economic system, which is based on centralized government control of commodity exports and credit, needs to be reformed. As the economic crisis is deepening in Russia, the 64 billion ruble question whether the political and economic system that has been built under Putin will survive in its present form.

Will those who favor reform and more openness prevail, or will those who favor manipulating information, tightening the screws and raising the nationalist banner win out? There are dire implications to this outcome for Russia and the world. (more…)