Russian and Estonian Row: Historical Roots

The Free Thought Society ^ | May 3, 2007 | TragicHipster

[PHLSyndicate]

Modern analysis of 20th century Russian history indicates that the struggle of Russia vs. Germany in WWII was not a struggle for the glory of socialism. It was in defense of Mother Russia. This statue isn't so much about defiling the communist past. It is a direct assault on the very essence of what "Russia" and "Russian" is.

[PHLSyndicate]

Reports are that tensions have worsened in the past few days between Russia and Estonia.

A plan to remove a Soviet World War II era statue commemorating the lives of a handful of Russian soldiers has sparked quite a controversy in Estonia and Moscow. The ethnic Estonian's have long-resented the statue, given the invasion of their country in 1940 by the Soviet Union (and later by Nazi Germany) and the subsequent decades long occupation by Russian dominated forces.

In further evidence of Russia's decline and its inability to influence the actions of nations previously within her sphere of influence, Estonians seem to be taking this statue issue seriously, despite the dipolomatic effects.

Due to pressure brought to bear on the Moscow government by ethnic Russians living in the former Soviet republic, Putin's government has cut oil supplies to Estonia's Baltic ports and cut off rail traffic between the nations. At the moment, the Estonian government has described this as a grave deterioration of relations with the EU. Military action, which I don't think anyone believes at the moment will happen, would bring NATO into what would become an issue of global significance. Will German, American and Polish forces guarantee the protection offered by the NATO alliance to Estonia? I don't believe this situation will escalate that far, but we do seem to be in a period of time where the periphery of Russian influence becomes ever-more fragmented and unstable. The consequences of that deterioration will soon, if it hasn't already, make itself felt much more profoundly.

This event has a lot of implications. But, for the moment, there is one particularly interesting passage from an International Herald Tribune article. It gives a lot of insight into what is happening in relations between the two nations:

In Estonia, officials blamed Russian hackers for shutting down government Web sites, while the country's president, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, called on Russia "to remain civilized" after days of protests in both countries over the removal of a Soviet-era monument in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, late last week.

A revolution ain't truly complete until people start getting uppity about architecture and statues. That's when you know its really over, when aesthetics become a matter of a life or death struggle. In the case of pulling down a "Soviet-era monument", its not so important that it is Soviet, so much as it is a monument to the struggle of Russian people against a foreign invader. This is really about WWII -- the defining event of Europe and Russia in the 20th century. The 1945 - 2001 world order revolves around the event the statue memorializes. Of course, that world order is no more. And so goes the statue.

Many Estonians wish not to preserve the statue, given lingering bitterness over previous Soviet occupation. But what this statue removal represents to the large population of ethnic Russians, well, that's a whole other story.

Modern analysis of 20th century Russian history indicates that the struggle of Russia vs. Germany in WWII was not a struggle for the glory of socialism. It was in defense of Mother Russia. This statue isn't so much about defiling the communist past. It is a direct assault on the very essence of what "Russia" and "Russian" is.

Russia, with large, flat, nearly defenseless frontiers, has struggled against Asian invaders from the east and European invaders from central Europe multiple times over the past several centuries. After nearly 400 years of territorial expansion, Russia is now following a steep, rapid decline in almost all demographic categories. Internally, Russia is a mess and things seem to be worsening. And now this -- being virtually kicked out of Europe and the loss of additional areas within their traditional sphere of influence.

This truly is a matter of national pride on both sides. Disregard for a 6-foot-tall statue of men whom gave their lives for Mother Russia (on conquered Estonian soil) may very well be yet another event in a long line that establishes a wedge between Europe and Russia.

What were our leaders doing while we lost Russia, whose totalitarian government we once feared and fought for decades, to authoritarianism once again?