Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
MPR News Staff

How Russia's history informs its present and future

Michael Hemesath, Nick Hayes and Gary Eichten.
(From left) Michael Hemesath, Nick Hayes and Gary Eichten recently discussed the legacy of the Russian Revolution and its impact on Russia's role in the world today.
Courtesy of St. John's University

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Two Russia experts from St. John's University explore what have we learned about politics, economics and history in light of the Soviet experiment, and discuss Russia's role in the world today.

Since the Soviet Union crumbled, Americans thought Gorbachev and Yeltsin were the most popular leaders and now wonder why Russians keep Putin in power.

Professor Hayes said Vladimir Putin "enjoys a strong popularity in Russian society, and we have to come to grips with it." Hayes believes Putin would have been resoundingly re-elected even without holding an election that most have said was only cosmetically democratic.

President Vladimir Putin meets with the media at campaign headquarters.
President Vladimir Putin meets with the media at his campaign headquarters in Moscow on March 18, 2018.
Sergei Chirikov | AFP | Getty Images

When the Berlin Wall fell, and communism fell, Hayes said the movements in Russia and eastern Europe "weren't all aspiring to democracy, or if they were, they had a very limited notion of what it entailed." He added, "the driving force was nationalism."

"I don't think we properly understood the mentality of the anti-communist leaders of the time as to what their longer agenda, or their view towards domestic politics, would have been."

Hayes said Gorbachev often spoke to "our common European home, about being a participating great power in the European context." But, he said, "in recent years, Putin has driven it in a different direction, increasingly speaking of Russia as part of Eurasia."

Michael Hemesath discussed Russia's economic past and future, and said Russia has "wasted" twenty years. Russia is "an important big middle income ecoonomy, but I don't see them being a world power going forward, and their 'playing footsie' with China isn't going to change that," he said.

Nick Hayes is University Chair of Critical Thinking at St. John's University and is writing a book about his many visits to Russia and how it has changed over the years.

Michael Hemesath is president of St. John's University. A Harvard-trained economist, he has directed study-abroad programs in Russia and Ukraine.

Gary Eichten moderated the event held March 26, 2018 at the Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis. He was a longtime host at Minnesota Public Radio and retired in 2012.

To listen to the discussion, click the audio player above.