[3pm]

I agree. From the Systems Thinking, the best case scenario is that a new leader will start changing the rules of the game (internal incentives, punishments and constraints). Only then, and slowly, over decades things may start improving. It is just hard to imagine this outside of couple urban centers.

Right now majority of Russians still think they are a temporarily embarrassed great empire. And the goal is to return to the past glory. And the way to do it is by force, because only might is right.