Boris Kagarlitsky: Today only foreigners and state bureaucracy still interesază Russian elections. Even those who by nature of their job are involved in the process they perceive as being absurd, funny and meaningless. Why choose us? A funny body which we call the State Duma, which even formal, according to the letter of the Constitution, has no power other than the approved government initiatives? Even in the early 1990s, when the Duma was dominated by so-called opposition have not things been different. Administration selects between the parties and candidates have a choice. And given this choice, there is no one better than United Russia Party. Not because his list is somewhat better, but because others are just clowns. There were some funny clowns, such as Vladimir Zhirinovsky, but people were tired of him, and he is aging.

It is the vote, though?

Most Russians do not vote at all. The main purpose of election fraud in Russia is changing the results, but also improve the participation rate. Those who come mostly vote for United Russia. Those who are not pro-United Russia is not uncomfortable to go to the polls.

Why many young people choose to join United Russia and its youth organizations?

It's a funny question. You have some people who have the chance to take a job in administration or other state-controlled institution. To receive this job, you must be a member of one of these organizations. It's very simple. Works the same system as in communist times. The difference is that in 1970 or 1980 there were grounds to take seriously the communist ideology. But now the Russian state has no ideology that can take it seriously.

Why not offer a credible alternative Russian opposition?

There is opposition in Russian politics. There are just some clowns paid by the government and some former bureaucrats who for various reasons liberals have lost their jobs and want to recover them.

We can imagine a scenario like that of revolutionary Arab Spring in Russia? The economic downturn could shake the political system from scratch?

The changes will be dramatic and is likely to be violent. The main issues will be addressed are social. Must stop the destruction of health and education system should be rebuilt infrastructure and public services devastated by neoliberalism. In fact, it is something to be done in most countries of the world, from America to Egypt. Of course, there is an overriding need to renationalise energy, oil and gas production - these big corporations that public welfare wrinkle making it in private or foreign assets. Are involved here and so-called "state corporations" which in reality are not state-controlled and operate as private companies not affiliated with the government only, but even controlling government. WTO negotiations should be discontinued. That's really what people want. And, of course, most current political elites must make a very long trip to explore the North. If we do this, there will not ever democracy and rule of law in Russia.

Director of the Institute for Globalization and Social Movements in Moscow, Boris Kagarlitsky is a well-known commentator on Russian politics and society. Is author of books like Empire of the Periphery: Russia and the World System (Pluto Press, 2008) Russia Under Yeltsin And Putin or: Neo-Liberal Autocracy (TNI / Pluto, 2002).