Russia's Problems Weren't Quite as Big as They Were Being Made Out to Be

The common denominator in both cases was the blithe inability of the regime to comprehend the problems they faced. Ministers, senior officials and high ranking military officers held their jobs thanks to connections or loyalty rather than talent and expertise. And because the halls of imperial power were full of ricus zenophobia, they also blamed foreigners and jews when reality did penetrate their hermetically steeled imperial bubble.