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To: pppp
The Mongols controlled Russia for three hundred years. I realize that control ended five hundred years ago, but there was an influence (NON-European). You are right about Byzantium's influence, since many Varengians (Russians) fought as mercenaries for the Byzantine Empire. Of course Orthodox Christianity was transmitted to Russia through Byzantium.
My experience with Russians was more focused on their politics. I did not mean to disparage the Russian People. I happen to think Russian Music and Literature is the finest in the World.
What I see in terms of politics is either an apolitical attitude (I presume a conditioned response to living under an authorization government that punished any one that disagreed with the official line) or a tendency to accept there fate (politically). In America, UK and other Western Countries, people have had either decades or centuries of individual freedom of expression and participation in government. The fatalistic or apolitical approach is vastly smaller in the West.

Russians may be more individualistic in nonpolitical matters, but I expect it will take some time for the current situation to change.

I will say that Russia does not compare with the fatalism of third world countries or the Muslim World. The old saying in the Muslim World "It is written," describes that more extreme fatalism for a persons entire life.
36 posted on 08/23/2006 7:18:04 AM PDT by GeorgefromGeorgia
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To: GeorgefromGeorgia
I've checked your information. The Mongols' control over Russia was limited to the ability to impose sort of taxation. At that time Russia was ruled by its own princes. It certainly wasn't occupation-like presence so the influences were limited but certainly present. However I wouldn't overestimate them.
I would like to emphasize one thing. Apolitical and fatalistic attitude of Russian people has more to do with European [I mean current white European political culture] than with the strong tribal bonds shaping the life of people in most African and Middle East countries. To understand Russia you have to know this. Russians are as likely to defend their country and rebel as white Europeans, they feel as disconnected with their state as white Europeans, they have the same demanding attitude towards nanny state as Europeans. They don't have any desire to rebuild their country, they simply want [a mean the more energetic ones ] to move to a better place, as white Europeans increasingly do. Russia is an European country all right.
In Africa and Middle East people have stronger bonds with their tribe or clan than with their state. They consider themselves a part of the tribe first and an individual latter. For some of them the existence of the state is completely irrelevant. You don't find this kind of attitude in European part of Russia. Maybe in a remote province.....
38 posted on 08/23/2006 8:16:34 AM PDT by pppp
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