The sanctions against Russia are having a negative impact on the lives of the people who belong to what one might call “Russia’s nascent middle class.” These are people who work for Western companies, have businesses, travel overseas, keep their money in the bank, have credit cards or maybe even investments, and consume at a steady pace.
The Western leaders project their feelings about the importance of the middle class onto Putin and conclude that the middle class’s suffering should be painful to Putin. In reality, however, the opposite is true.
Those Russians who have adapted to the capitalist system, who feel comfortable within it and who are hurt by the sanctions are Putin’s enemies. They are the ones who came out into the streets to protest the rigged elections of 2011-12. They constitute those 15% of population that doesn’t support Putin.
Putin will gain a lot from the dissident class becoming impoverished. In fact, the West is doing his work for him.
Such blunders will continue unless Western leaders overcome their dislike of academics and abandon their suspicious attitude towards the life of the intellect and begin consulting specialists with actual expertise in foreign cultures.
Clarissa's Blog 
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