Concluding Comments

Once again, I've enjoyed following your blog. Your position has been, I'd suggest, that Russia is moving in its own way, at its own pace towards a freer and more open democracy. Your articles support this - legislation to combat corruption, the anniversary of the abolition of serfdom (which I enjoyed reading), as well as the KGB discussing secret operations in Estonia, etc. Hence, you've began to develop a narrative. The history has helped, I think, to place more of what you discuss into perspective. Novosti (RT.com) has also been a boon.

I would have like to see a little more objectivity in some of your articles (i.e., the Ukrainian famine), rather than simply being pro Russia on all fronts (but I understand too that you're trying to make an argument). A number of countries have gone through similar reconciliation processes: South Africa, following aparthied, Rwanda, after the genocide, etc. The Ukrainian famine is one of history great - if untold - tragedies; a little more history would have also helped to place the reforms in context; and a little more work on the design front (the video bar is good, but more links to key feeds and web links dealing with Russia, its history, etc.) would have spiced up the look of the blog. But on balance you produced a blog that's become increasingly interesting to follow.

Well done!

The blog so far...

It's that time when I evaluate the blog so far. So a few thoughts are in order. Firstly, you've been consistent about posting, which is really important. Well done! And in your last post, you've begun to respond to my questions - for example, about the video you posted. You didn't respond to my question about "graft". By posting "comments" on your posts, I'm trying to get you to think more deeply and widely about Russian life, and of course politics - to enter into a conversation as it were. As you post, you need to analyze what your posting in greater detail: demonstrate more fully what and that you are learning about Russia and its politics - becoming a little bit of an expert on the subject.

By now you should be reading about Russia along with blogging. Dig out interesting articles. Make a trip to Chapters. Find people who are writing about Russia; are there any experts you've overlooked who are writing about this great and vast country? Could you get more use out of your BBC profile link? Lots of food for thought?

I'm not sure the HCC adds anything to the blog. It's only connection to the blog would be that it's director is from the former Soviet Union, but most people wouldn't know that. What about something else, more relevant? The choice is yours. Is there anything else that you could add to the blog that might help your readers to engage more fully with Russia.

Stick at it Elise. Onwards and upwards as they say.