If annexed, the Crimea will prove to be a bitter pill to swallow, and the source of Russia's accelerated demographic decline (based on current trends).

Russia's demographic situation is not good. In the coming decades its population is expected to decline by 20-40%, and the people serve the interests of the state (and mafia).

Annex the Crimea in a way that causes outrage in the West and Beijing (the CCP leadership and other countries with veritable empires do not want the precedent of an outside power forcing a separist movement in their autonomous regions) and there will be serious economic sanctions that postpone Russia's development even further.

A partial return to Soviet foreign policy practices would lead to a partial return to Soviet economic problems.

The West is essentially playing this end game. Is this what Putin wants? Or is he so intelligent that he thinks (a) Russia's energy resources (that benefit the oligarchs: see western Canada for how energy profits could be redistributed to provincial citizens) are enough to satisfy his constituents (the oligarchs) and (b) acting tough is enough to placate nationalist fervor (which his regime's media controls and education system encouraged in the first place: see China for how state propaganda uses nationalism to buttress state domestic and foreign policy) and thereby satisfy enough of the masses (a Marxist-Stalinist political vocabulary somehow still seems permissible in Russia if Putin reverts to hammer-and-sickle tactics) to keep up democratic pretenses preserved by secret police, paid thugs and protesters, manipulated elections, media control, and other strong-arm methods to keep the people's aspirations in check.

Also, a clear break with the Crimea could set in motion a more pronounced Westernization in what remains of the Ukraine, as it is freed from Russian influence and enters the embrace of the West. Does Russia want a partial return to the days of West and East Germany? In this case, the Russia populace would be juxtaposed with the Ukrainian: the one marching toward a Eurasian future based on Soviet-style statecraft and Saudi-style oligarchy, the other modernizing in step with EU development plans, advice, and aid.

The end game of that is another messy revolution, this time in Russia.

Edited 3/11/2014 01:13:37

1) Is there any evidence that economic turmoil would cause population decline is Russia? Soviet demographic statistics don't show historical correlation between the two.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Population_of_Russia.PNG

In fact, the two values might be inversely correlated.

http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1532/3023.full

2) Overall, the analysis seems sound. Now that China has taken a stance similar to the West, Russia is being threatened by economic ostracization to some degree. As large Russian enterprises have lost considerable stock value, Putin's constituent oligarchs might indeed expect a change of policy or start searching for a new president.

I thinck putin is great president
But is action might cause an other war in europe wich ant new look threw history
Wars in europe are more comin then you think but the diff is that now there arnt just european wars but
World wars and the weapons are 10x more powerful then a 100 years ago ( Ww1 1914) but we are a smarter generation witch means war ant a option for any one exsept north korea

So crimea well be part of russia
Russia will be the same
Usa want do anything because of its people distrusting there government
EU dont know for im american
China getting stronger
South america in a revolution
Africa still the same
Middle east ¿.....?

Edited 3/12/2014 14:46:36

^ This man is the worst representation of an American.

WARLORD, if you're going to comment please speak English. You are not texting your bitches at high school, speak like you have some stature and intelligence.

Its cool man i dont got time for your ass and blacklist me plz


Your the worst representation of an american your all ways talking bad about your own ppl instead of trying to help them, open their minds you put them down
You are just a little speck that thinks you better then everyone else
In reality me and you are in the same spot we need to be better then this

I dont know why you hate me so much

Edited 3/12/2014 23:43:06

Are you gonna blacklist all my accounts? No, I might keep one of them secret and just bug you like hell.

You hate every one that is diffrent you ant better then anyonne

You need to think diffrent and not put down your own country but help us become better as a country

Ill just black list every account you have

Oh my...you know, that really hurt my feelings XD

No, I've spoken to you before. You have this "Americas is better than everyone" pride, and I told you "you're wrong". America hasn't been a world leader since the cold war (correct me if I'm wrong, Qi). And I personally blame femenazis for ruining freedoms relating to speech. Just look at recent news! Now there's a campaign for banning the word "bossy". Its claimed to promote women and little girls into becoming rolemodels. But just look who's funding the campaign for feminists.....Condoleeza Rice, and Beyonce. Beyonce claims to support feminism, but simply look at her husband, Jay-z. Music referring to women as "Ho's and bitches". I'd say she should start her feminist campaign there instead. And Condoleeza rice, member of the Bush administration, which lead an bombing in Iraq which killed thousands of women. This is one step closer to running America into the ground.

So, no. I have little faith in the USA at the moment.

^ Got this info from here

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nu5F8a3YUE&feature=youtu.be

http://m.youtube.com/watch?debug_prerolls=false&sts=16137&utcoffset=-240&v=znY665hkx50&has_verified=1&client=mv-google&layout=mobile

Edited 3/13/2014 01:28:01

Dude im sorry man but im not from england like you. i beleove in my people and the rest who claim too be americans. I know the government is all fucked up but i know there is meny americans i could trust, i dont mean every one but their is some we still could be strong and every one claims. I claim usa too be the greates country withing the past 60 years. Still is but where are coming too a time that powers are shifting.

I think englond is a good country too are canada where your from

And i fucking black listed you

What the fuck are you even talking about? I'm from Michigan, USA. I do remember joking about saying I was from England because the USA is such an embarrassment.

This video is really relevant to this topic you guys are on about(don't watch if you are VERY patriotic :P):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16K6m3Ua2nw

Edited 3/13/2014 03:56:20

You guuys hate america so much that your blinded, you get mad when i say america is great and america is great where you do you live?
That video is right ......."america was the greatest country in the world. "i also said the government was fuck up. And there a hand full of people that i considered true american. If you give up on your counrty your good as a slave brain whashed to hate america.
I hate amercia for its government killing people and little kidds. I also hate its citizens sitting in the side line talking shot but not doing any thing too make their country great. Any where in the world there are meny countrys that are great. You think im hating on the rest of the world. But im saying not every one in america is evil and ingerent like some are . Im saying in every country their is a down side
The down side in america u.s.a is that we have the most influntial army in the world we control most of the world threw puppet states
For that i say the united states is the biggest most curopt country in the world

But you living in the usa talking bad about your self you live in the worst country in the world. Claiming its people are evil. open your mind you are saying that your the worst type of person in the world. You think a person in syria , russia would know the diff between you and the government. i hate the government too but dam you go to school with americans your mom and dad are american you should be a govener even a top offical to stop this. And instead of streding anti american shit. Claiming to be american you should be spreading how we should be better not saying how we are so bad

Edited 3/13/2014 04:40:44

Yes it is good to point out the bad in us and are country but we also need a salution

I believe you need education.


So for starters I will give you a small incomplete comprehension on what the USA is and what it truely represents. Try to read it

http://www.salon.com/2014/03/08/35_countries_the_u_s_has_backed_international_crime_partner/

Edited 3/13/2014 04:54:39

Didnt you read my stuff you are just proren my point fire

Edited 3/13/2014 05:08:26