Vladislav Surkov. Texts 97--07. -- M .: Europe , 2008

Sometimes, historical treatises are able to convey more about our times than day-to-day journalism. If, however, rereading pages of the past does not help to improve your optimism, the only antidote against political skepsis is deliberate construction of a new utopia.

State utopia in theses

Vladislav Surkov. Texts 97--07. -- M.: Europe, 2008. A month ago, we presented in our traditional book review a collection of articles and speeches by Dmitry Medvedev. Here is yet another publication originating from Kremlin corridors. Vladislav Surkov is referred to as the «Grey Eminence of Russian politics», «one of the most influential yet non-public political figures of present-day Russia ». He is also sometimes compared to Mikhail Suslov, who in Soviet times was in charge of ideological support for the party line – it is added that, in contrast to Comrade Suslov, Mr. Surkov is young, dynamic, highly erudite, and that it is interesting to read and listen to him. It is also known that Vladislav Yurievich writes poetry and composes music, though he himself admits that «he does not consider himself too talented» in these spheres.
No matter how good Vladislav Surkov may be at poetry, the author of the concept of “sovereign democracy” represents an unconventional phenomenon in the field of political ideology. It would be hard to say how much the popular support for the central authorities, confirmed by opinion polls and election returns, actually owes to his activities, yet it is indisputable that Surkov’s contribution to the triumph of «Putin’s plan» is enormous. The articles and speeches by the deputy head of the RF Presidential Administration, presented under a single cover, are not just a collection of featureless formal texts – or, more precisely, not all of them are, by far. These also represent a subtle game of reasoning and offer materials for an inner dispute with the author. And there is a lot to argue about – the proof of this is the polemic that flared up time and again in press and the Internet, concerning «Nationalization of the future» and Vladislav Surkov’s other texts included in the book.
Of course, Surkov is a political actor, a pragmatic, prepared to come up with unexpected arguments in order to substantiate whatever actions of the authorities, whose credibility or soundness can be challenged – like insisting that the decision to appoint governors is based on typical “archetypes” of Russian thinking, or ignoring the apparent historical parallels with the proclaimed thesis that in our country «the personality actually is a political institute». At the same time, there is no doubt that we are dealing with a man of principles and convictions, rather than a cynical manipulator of concepts. By calling for viewing Russia «out of a utopia», he is actually creating a state ideology, whose absence even a decade ago used to be lamented.
Vladislav Surkov says in his address to young writers, included in the volume, that both he and other associates of Vladimir Putin would like to be remembered well afterwards. This is a valuable declaration, because it is only honest and, yes, ambitious politicians that can give people a real sense of touching a utopia.

Vremya Novostei № 49, 25 March, 2008