In Moscow's Shadows 148: 'Purging' the Military; the politics of anti-corruption in a corrupt system
May 26, 2024
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Explore corruption-related arrests in the Russian military, fears of a coup, and the politics of anti-corruption in a corrupt system. Analyze power struggles in the military, Putin's role, and the facade of anti-corruption campaigns. Navigate Belorov's efforts to combat corruption and unravel Putin's priorities in the defense industry complex.
44:58
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Quick takeaways
Anti-corruption campaigns in the Russian military serve strategic purposes within the context of maximizing resources for efficiency during wartime.
Symbolic anti-corruption campaigns in corrupt systems create a facade of accountability while preserving top officials from scandals.
Deep dives
The Military Corruption Arrests
Recent high-profile arrests within the military, including Deputy Minister Timur Ivanov and Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznyetsov, have raised questions about a potential purge. However, the complexity of these anti-corruption campaigns reflects a mix of political implications. The arrests do not necessarily indicate a coup brewing or an FSB takeover, as some extreme speculations suggest.
Potential Motives Behind Arrests
Speculations regarding Putin punishing the military for failures in 2022 or concerns about the military's growing strength do not align with the realities. The arrests are more likely strategic moves to crack down on corruption within the military. With the war context and financial considerations in mind, these campaigns aim to ensure resources are maximized for the military's efficiency.
Symbolic Politics and Anti-Corruption Campaigns
Anti-corruption campaigns in a corrupt system serve the purpose of symbolic politics, showcasing a facade of accountability while distancing top officials from corruption scandals. By targeting individuals who breach the system's informal rules or become visible obstacles, such campaigns create a narrative of a 'new sheriff in town'. Political struggles, clan disputes, and power dynamics within the elite are also mirrored in these anti-corruption drives.
Fighting and Facade of Combatting Corruption
Despite public commitments to fighting corruption, the systemic prevalence of corruption at the top levels remains largely untouched. Anti-corruption campaigns primarily target lower-ranking officials and individuals who overstep boundaries or challenge the status quo publicly. The underlying cultural norms of corruption within the system are unlikely to change significantly, with anti-corruption measures serving more as performative gestures than systemic reforms.
What is behind the current spate of corruption-related arrests within the Russian military? Fears of a coup, an FSB takeover, punishing the generals for a badly-fought war? I'd say it is what it seems, an attempt to tackle waste in a time of war. That doesn't mean this kleptocracy is changing its spots, though: even within corrupt systems, anti-corruption campaigns can be mobilised for a range of purposes.
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