Page "Russia" Paragraph 78

Western observers have raised questions as to how much of Russia's political system corresponds to Western liberal democratic ideals.

Academics have often complained about the difficulty of classifying Russia's political system.

According Steve White, during the Putin presidency Russia made clear that it had no intention of establishing a " second edition " of the American or British political system, but rather a system that was closer to Russia's own traditions and circumstances.

Richard Sakwa wrote that the Russian government is undoubtedly considered legitimate by the great majority of the Russian people and seeks to deliver a set of public goods without appealing to extra-democratic logic to achieve them, but whether the system was becoming an illiberal or delegative democracy was more contentious.