Latest Articles about Domestic/Social
![](/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Russian_Protests_Left_and_Right_-_EDM_January_5__2012.jpg)
Under Political Pressure, Putin Moves His Powerbase to the Kremlin
A massive pro-democracy movement has emerged in Russia, bringing together all shades of political opposition from leftist Marxists to pro-Nazi nationalists. Still, the backbone of the protest rallies on December 10 on Bolotnaya Square (60,000 protesters) and the larger rally on December 24 on Sakharov... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Viktor_Yanukovych__Barosso__Von_Rompuy_-_EDM_January_4__2012.jpg)
Tymoshenko’s Imprisonment Slows Integration with the European Union
The association agreement with the EU comprising a free trade agreement was not signed or initialed at the Ukraine-EU summit in Kyiv on December 19. EU Council President Herman van Rompuy only formally announced that talks on the agreement were completed. He and European Commission... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Kazan_-_EDM_January_4__2012.jpg)
Tatar Nationalism Remains Vibrant Force in Volga Region
Tensions between ethnic Russians and Tatars in the Republic of Tatarstan increased in 2011. Ethnic Russian activists were particularly angered by Tatar TV journalist Elmira Israfilova after she lashed out at the Russian protesters. Israfilova reportedly called the Russians occupiers and suggested that those among... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Vadim_Sultanov_-_EDM_January_3__2012.jpg)
Relocating Syrian Circassians to the North Caucasus Poses Problems and Opportunities for Moscow
The end of 2011 saw a spike in violence in Kabardino-Balkaria. A series of high profile-killings of law enforcement agents followed the killings of several suspected insurgents. On December 31, the commander of a special police unit in Kabardino-Balkaria, Colonel Murat Shkhagumov, was gunned down... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Russia_Protests_Dec_24_-_EDM_January_3__2012.jpg)
Russia Reluctantly Enters Into a New Revolution
Russia has sunk into the usual hibernation of long seasonal holidays, but quite unusually it now lives simultaneously in two very different new years. The first one was planned very carefully by the Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, and it started on September 24 with his... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Hu_Jintao_Among_His_Rivals.jpg)
The Last Year of Hu’s Leadership: Hu’s to Blame?
As the Hu Jintao era enters its final year, Chinese elites have started to review his administration, revealing many observers share a profound sense of disappointment. Hu Jintao has been criticized for his “inaction” (wuwei)—a frequently-used term in both Chinese blogs and daily conversations in... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Wukan2_-_Central_Govt_Succor.jpg)
Wukan Uprising Highlights Dilemmas of Preserving Stability
Since September, the residents of the Guangdong village Wukan have clashed with authorities over local government land seizures. Last week, however, Xue Jinbo, a village representative trying to negotiate with local officials, died in police custody with reportedly visible signs of torture, such as blood... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Turkish_Soldiers_marching_-_EDM_December_19__2011.jpg)
Turkey’s Law on Military Service Exemption
On November 30, the Turkish Grand National Assembly passed a law that will allow citizens born before 1983 to avoid military service upon the payment of an exemption. Starting by January 1, 2012, those who comply with the requirements will have a six month-period to... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Putin_National_Phone-in_-_EDM_December_19__2011.jpg)
Russian Government Displays an Ingrained Lack of Novelty In Dealing With the North Caucasus
On December 15, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin held his now traditional annual phone-in press conference. During the phone-in, Putin mentioned the North Caucasus 21 times. It appeared that the Prime Minister still credits himself for bringing Chechnya back under Moscow’s control, as he mentioned the... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Bidzina_Ivanishvili_-_EDM_December_19__2011.jpg)
Ivanishvili Launches “Georgian Dream” Movement
Georgian billionnaire Bidzina Ivanishvili launched his political movement, “Georgian Dream,” on December 11 in Tbilisi’s State Concert Hall. The venue and format were tailored to one of his core constituencies: the Tbilisi intelligentsia that lost state support after the Soviet era and survives professionally on... MORE