Given that China under Xi is moving towards arbitrary one-man rule, and that Putin’s Russia is rapidly extinguishing free expression and political rights, it is fair to say that the political systems of the two countries, never far apart, are converging. And yet, the two nations are very different. China is vibrant and growing; Russia is stagnant, morose, and suspicious. How do we account for the discrepancy?
It is mostly due to history and culture. The Chinese people view their country as the center of the universe. The Chinese state has been on top for most of its existence. The country is clearly on an upswing. Why wouldn’t the Chinese people be energetic and optimistic, regardless of the travails of their recent past and any issues with their present government?
Russian history, on the other hand, is basically a string of disasters. Life is either bad or worse, depending on the size and competence of the state. Russians don’t believe things will ever get better, because they never have. And so, they don’t.