'The Unity of Russian Nation about far more than Inviolability of State Borders,’ Inozemtsev says

New Series on Eurasia ^ | Jan 11, 2019

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Since Vladimir Putin came to power in 2000, Russians have been obsessed with “one aspect of Russian ‘unity,’ territorial,” Vladislav Inozemtsev says; but “the unity of the Russian nation is not only about the inviolability of state borders but about much else and the neglect or suppression of these other aspects threatens Russia’s future.

In a column, the Moscow economist says that the unity of any nation, including the Russian, involves a recognition of common tasks and goals, a shared vision of the world, and sufficient confidence in society of these “elements of solidarity” that there can be debate about issues affecting its members

“The essence of civilized politics,” Inozemtsev continues, consists of discussions reflecting the different opinions of citizens within this common set of understandings and values. Unfortunately, “today, this does not seem to be the case in Russia;” and that lack is a more serious threat to Russian “unity” than is any “territorial” threat.

According to the commentator, “two decades of the assertion of ‘the unity’ of the country has led however strange this may seem to a complete discrediting of the political processes at the all-national level.” Even those who are nominally federal politicians now speak only about narrow local concerns. Anything else is precluded by all the talk about “unity.”

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Apparently it’s becoming fashionable among Russian elites to talk about a coming American civil war, when for 20 years onward Putin’s main task is suppressing just that in his own country.

[familyop]

I’m under the impression from only a little study at times, that propaganda and conditions in Russia were similar in some ways throughout the Cold War. I have much respect for anyone who can stomach much study of the history of Russia. Very saddening, in my opinion. ...can’t help but feel for those many souls.