Or are they continuing the intelligentsia's long tradition of maximalism that has undermined reform in Russian history?

Sewer money would, just as surely, undermine reform of Congressional campaign financing.

"Any attempt at undermining reform would be counter-revolutionary."

But whatever lies behind it, the policy announced Saturday is sure to undermine badly needed economic reform in the former Soviet Union.

The Bush administration believes that raising final-status issues now will undermine genuine Palestinian reform.

In previous elections, analysts have said, nationalists also used violence to undermine reform, including a kidnapping by nationalist parties before parliamentary elections four years ago.

This would undermine reform rather than fixing it.

Far from undermining reform as you assert, this will make insurance companies compete on quality as well as price.

In short, the special interests, including the self-interests of the legislators themselves, are undermining reform at everyone else's expense.

The words generally used about obstacles deliberately placed by officials at many levels to undermine reform are "the opposition" and "the resistance."