[actionfromafar]

The USSR collapse was actively organised badly, at least in Russia proper, in the years following 1991. A neoliberal society was transplanted from whole cloth to the people. In reality, a few oligarchs-to-be in various ways acquired for free what had been state property. A ruling elite replaced by another ruling elite who could climb the ladders fast enough.

Had the transition not been so chaotic and fast, a lot of grief would have been spared.

[kaba0]

But is there any reasonable way for that to happen without outside intervention from an organized entity? It seems like something that can’t happen “without bootstrapping”.

[actionfromafar]

No, there isn't, but also it's a virtual certainty that you will have outside intervention. So the powers that be should take it seriously and try to reign in both official operators and buckaroos going over. Every opportunistic country and individual will take a shot, so standing back won't work either, unfortunately.