Election Showmanship in Russia's Managed Democracy The upcoming Duma elections in Russia are a prime example of how a managed democracy can present a spectacle to the world while maintaining the status quo at home.
With President Vladimir Putin's party, United Russia, poised to maintain its grip on power, one might wonder what all the fuss is about.
Critics dismiss the election as neither free nor fair, citing numerous examples of opposition politicians and activists being forced into exile or imprisoned on trumped up charges.