Posted on 03/05/2022 4:50:07 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
Vladimir Putin clearly hoped that his invasion of Ukraine would solidify the sense of “’us versus them’ between Russia and the West that he has used to “perpetuate the legitimacy” of his regime by producing “a spirit of patriotism and unity in the face of foreign threats,” Gulnaz Sharafutdinova says.
But the opposition to the war among Russians is now sufficiently widespread and strong that there is a very real risk that they will no longer accept the conflict in Ukraine as “Russia’s war” but instead see it as “Putin’s war,” with potentially devastating consequences to the Kremlin.
The professor at the Russian Institute of the Royal College in London says that the invasion was obviously intended to solidify among Russians the sense of their exclusion from the international community that Putin has been talking about; and it has certainly done that. But the war has had other consequences as well.
Given problems at home and the end of the post-Crimea euphoria, Sharafutdinova continues, talk about foreign interference and the need to confront the West was “the only way this leadership could stay in power. The path of war … can thus be seen in hindsight as a way the Russian leadership chose to preserve the political status quo.”
A war is “the ultimate way of constructing a world based on ‘us versus them,’” she says. It is the most powerful means to bring Russian national identity to the fore and making it the dominant position from which ordinary Russians assess their lives and surroundings.” Rulers can use it to justify their position by appealing to “war-time patriotism.”
Sergey Bodrov, a Russian TV hero, says of the current situation: “you cannot speak badly about your own during the war. Never. Even if they are wrong … This simple rule is old and primitive but it works. When the war ends, then yes, you can say this was wrong … and we shouldn’t repeat it.”
For the present, this logic still works for many Russians, Sharafutdinova says. But continuing anti-war demonstrations may change that, with ever more Russians taking their lead from these and from the Internet rather than state television. If that happens, what today is viewed as “Russia’s war” could soon be viewed by the Russian people as “Putin’s” alone.
If that happens, the political consequences are likely to be profound.
Propaganda language has recent changed “Russian army” to “Kremlin forces”.
Finally an intelligent approach to this situation.
Puma today announced the suspension of all product deliveries and operation of all stores in Russia
If adidas does the same, the gopniks will storm the Kremlin
There is more to this than we can see. It is a situation that if you turn over one rock, there is another and another to be turned over.
There’s always wheels within wheels, but sometimes a flower is just a flower.
I buy that Putin has bitten off a really tough piece of gristle and leather. But if anything, Biden and the west will posture this. The narration has been a lot of bald faced lies about the invasion and “who is the real enemy,” and deflection extreme cancel culture actions to deflect from people seeing their dirty hands in this mess.
I realize this suits your narrative
But that is a tiny pro Uke blog
By Paul Goble
A former state and CIA ia anti Trump globalist
Now that they can’t use their MaterCards, the Russian people are more likely to see that the globalists are their enemy. And a heinous enemy at that.
Unfortunately, you have to be inquisitive enough to turn over that first rock and nowadays, that is a real deterrent.
[Given problems at home and the end of the post-Crimea euphoria, Sharafutdinova continues, talk about foreign interference and the need to confront the West was “the only way this leadership could stay in power. The path of war … can thus be seen in hindsight as a way the Russian leadership chose to preserve the political status quo.” ]
Russia’s problem was internal turmoil. In fact, that internal turmoil continued to cause problems while it fought WWI, leading ultimately to the October Revolution. Putin is looking abroad precisely because his enemies at home are prostrate at his feet, not because they are lunging for his throat.
“....
Russians backed off instead of trying to take Tokyo and execute the Emperor. ....”
Pretty tough to do from the other side of the world using a mostly single track rickety Siberian railway, after the Battle of Tsushima with your fleet at the bottom of the sea and no money to build a new fleet!
[Pretty tough to do from the other side of the world using a mostly single track rickety Siberian railway, after the Battle of Tsushima with your fleet at the bottom of the sea and no money to build a new fleet!]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_regions_by_past_GDP_(PPP)#1%E2%80%932008_(Maddison)
It would have taken them some time, but that’s the way military expeditions are. It took 4 years before the US was in a position to attack Okinawa, which is a significant distance from mainland Japan. Once the Russians made the decision to devote the resources necessary, they could have streamrolled the Japanese possessions in Manchuria and Korea, then used them as a springboard to attack the Japanese mainland. Russia’s problem was unrest at home, which broke out right after its decision to end hostilities with Japan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1905_Russian_Revolution
As casualties mount, his position will become harder and harder sustain. The Russians are willing to make enormous sacrifices for their country, but not for one man's ego.
It is absolutely Putin’s war. I’m sure the majority of Russians think this was a really stupid idea.
The Russians weren’t doing too badly, their standard of living had gone way up since the fall of the USSR and so did their freedom.
Now they’re losing both... again.
This is Putin’s war.
He deserves to die for imposing it.
So many innocent people being killed and hurt - it can’t be tolerated.
He needs killing.
3X the capacity on the other side of the world with a soda straw means of getting its clout there! They might as well not have had it!
This isn't about Putin.
This is about the Techno Oligarchs showing the world who's Boss.
After they cancel a world nuclear power and get away with it, do you actually believe they'll stop there?
You display an astonishing naivete for someone who has been on FR this long.
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