Boris Yeltsin 1931-2007

Boris Yeltsin died today. From The Economist:

Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin helped to destroy the Soviet Union and did much to bring Russia’s democracy into existence. The former construction engineer was not a great builder of institutions; the democracy was flawed. But he had the right instincts. For liberating Russians from the yoke of the one-party state and the planned economy, he deserves immense gratitude.

In the early 1990s, I remember how loathed Yeltsin was in Swedish communist circles. As a teenage anarchist with many hardcore socialist friends, I learned about tears falling on the cheeks of high-ranking members of the Left Party when Yeltsin tore apart the dream of a world united under Soviet rule. I personally have a lot to thank Mr Yeltsin for. His actions in Moscow, and my friends’ reactions, made me realise that something is utterly wrong with Marxist ideas. An ideology that detests peoples longing for freedom cannot be sound. As a result of Yeltsin’s fight against the Communist Party hardliners in 1991, I took the time to truly scrutinise my beliefs. After years of complete ignorance towards anything resembling conservatism and liberalism, I began to read Nozick, Hayek, Mill, Locke, Hegel, and Burke. Slowly I realised that my semi-anarchist instincts weren’t the problem, it was my assumption that individual liberty and Marxist ideas were compatible that was the problem.

Thanks for everything, Mr Yeltsin. Rest in peace.