Historically, attempts at modernization in Russia, even when they look real, as with Stalin’s industrialization or Yeltsin’s market reforms, ultimately result in a Potemkin village-like state of affairs, because Russian society cannot change fast enough or with the patience necessary to see the changes through.
纵观历史，即使是在试图使俄罗斯现代化的尝试看来十分真实的时候，诸如斯大林的工业化或叶利钦的市场改革，其最终所导致的就是波特金村庄式的情势，因为俄罗斯社会无法改变得足够快，也没有足够必需的耐心来看透改革。