Geopolitical Futures
Keeping the future in focus
https://geopoliticalfutures.com
Signs of Instability in Russia
March 10, 2017 Approximately one year from now, on March 18, 2018, Russia will hold a
presidential election against the backdrop of an economic crisis that will continue to plague the
country in the coming year. Internal developments are the key issue facing Russia this year, and
the countryside will increasingly show signs of crisis.
Russia faces a number of social and economic problems that have resulted in unrest. After oil
prices dropped in late 2014, the country began to experience economic and labor protests.
Since then, unrest has continued to spread across Russia. Wage arrears (workers owed back
pay), which affect both public and private workers, have become increasingly problematic in oildependent and single-industry economies throughout Russia’s interior and in port cities. Cuts in
social programs that affect payments to veterans and children have also led to public protests.
1/4
Geopolitical Futures
Keeping the future in focus
https://geopoliticalfutures.com
2/4
Geopolitical Futures
Keeping the future in focus
https://geopoliticalfutures.com
(click to enlarge)
As economic and social problems persist, so do Putin’s moves to consolidate power in the
security sphere and political arena. Severe financial constraints prevent him from solving the
economic crisis in advance of the 2018 election, so he seeks to suppress and control economic
unrest through increased security measures. For now, the protests are still small, numbering in
the low hundreds at most. However, Putin has signaled that he has no intention of tolerating
dissent through his reshuffling of internal security bodies and governorships. To learn more
about how Putin plans to deal with growing unrest in Russia and how that unrest may intersect
with political opposition forces, check out our recent Deep Dive, “Russia’s 2018 Presidential
Election.”
To learn more about the future of Russia, read our free
special report Putin and Russia’s Illusion of Power.
Dive into the heart of Russia’s problems and the path President Vladimir
Putin has taken to reclaim Russia’s role as a major power in our free
special report Putin and Russia’s Illusion of Power. Click the button
below to claim it now!
3/4
Geopolitical Futures
Keeping the future in focus
https://geopoliticalfutures.com
hbspt.cta.load(2632125, 'e4162ebd-6c62-4f29-8747-af93530c3e5b', {});
4/4
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)