Always remember your history - experts advise Russia

Russia has been advised by members of the Valdai think tank to do as the world’s leading economies are doing but never to forget its originality.

Dozens of representatives of Russia and foreign countries are taking part in the 7th meeting of the Valdai International discussion club. The previous day, they sailed on board the “Kronshtadt” boat from St. Petersburg toward the Kizh Island.

The political analysts are to discuss the present and future of Russia at their meeting, which will last until September 7th. 

The choice of the method of development has again become topical for Russia, and experts say that the reliance on only raw materials for economic development is inappropriate and risky. Which is the right way forward? Answering the question in an interview for VOR, Vyacheslav Nikonov said.

The answer lies in the Russian traditions, thinking process and restructuring.The Valdai club is discussing Russian history; to find out to what extent it has had an impact on the current state of the country. Two main positions have emerged: The country has traditions which define its present situation - a strong central authority, necessitated by the need to govern the vast territory effectively from a single center, declared Nikonov, saying that from his point of view, Russia is the kind of a country which can develop and thrive under its own traditions. The argument about a link between history and the future of Russia was lively and noisy, with Russian and foreign experts equally divided over the issue, Alexei Malashernko told VOR in an interview.

There was a discussion about what history and tradition mean to Russia, about how to digest them and whether it was unnecessary to bother about them. Another point concerns the character of the young generation. It is vital that the experts are trying hard to find a common language and not to politicize the discussions. It is heartening that foreign experts want to understand Russia not only at the contemporary stage, but  also to understand how its past has influenced its future, said Malashenko.

It is highly significant that discussions are taking place along the St. Petersburg to the Island of Kizhi and Valdai route-Northern Russia, which has contributed much to the country’s history.