Kryachkov 2!indd

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Д. А. Крячков
UNIT VIII
a betrayal or something similar. What is important to those who share this position is 
that perestroika took place and originated within the Communist Party of the Soviet 
Union and, hence, it has to be thrown out together with communism.
c. What do you consider to be the achievements and mistakes of that policy? 
B. “Forward, Russia!” 
a. Is Russia self-sufficient today? How would you characterize its technological and indus-
trial capacity?
b. “Modernization” has always been a big theme in Russia since the times of Peter the Great 
and Catherine II. In an attempt to diversify away from raw materials and to overcome the 
country’s backwardness, the authorities have launched yet another modernization cam-
paign. Analyze the data of the opinion poll
1
. How do the poll results compare to your ideas?
Choose five signs which would allow you to say that the country is indeed modernizing.
Eradication of corruption
47%
Fewer civil servants
42%
Creating a treatment for cancer
27%
Invention of new economical and environmentally friendly sources of energy
21%
Establishing conditions for fair business competition
21%
Independent judiciary
20 %
Active participation of citizens in local governance
18%
Growing foreign investments in Russia’s economy
16%
A growing number of people using bank cards
15%
A growing number of people spending their vacations abroad
13%
Transition to digital TV broadcasting
12%
Return to direct elections of governors
12%
Ensuring free conduct of rallies and demonstrations
10%
1 
The survey was conducted among 1,600 Russians by research groups Tsirkon and OMI Russia in June 2010.

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