“The social custom keeping communities in Russia together � krugovaia poruka, or ‘joint responsibility’ � has been used by the authorities as a means of control since Tsarism. In the Soviet period, krugovaia poruka became the terror of the group over the individual: ordinary people denounced each other out of suspicion and envy. Even today, krugovaia poruka remains deep inside the personality of most Russians. Many identify democracy and the rule of law with an insecure and troubled existence.”

A somewhat relevant – and fascinating – article on how attempts to introduce concepts of human rights and constitutional reform can go wrong, and how the people can become disillusioned with them just as much as governments…