Putin is rallying his supporters in Russia to agree with his war in Ukraine.

[kentuck]

A recent poll showed the approval rate for Putin at 83%.

A couple of Russian experts, Julia Ioffe and the Moscow Correspondent for the New York Times, were both in agreement, as I recall, with a similar belief that Putin was maintaining support amongst his followers.

They thought Putin should continue his offensive against Ukraine. Some felt like they were treated like "doormats" by the West. They believed that Ukraine was the threat.

It was an interesting conversation.

It sounded like war.

If America would just give up its freedoms, its Constitution, and the rule of law, and agree to live under new rules, and put Donald Trump back in the White House, and live high on the hog until you don't.

America should be looking for a negotiated settlement between Russia and the Ukraine. That would be best for the world. But when the people put an autocrat in power, it takes the power from the people and transfers it to an individual. That is what we fought our Revolution over.

We would not like to do it again.

[NewHendoLib]

1. it is the power of propaganda, plain and simple.

The 83% is because they are not allowed to know any better. It is an authoritarian regime. Russians equivalent is our trump cult, poisoned by right wing hate radio and TV

[kentuck]

2. I think your comparison is right on target.

The Donald is more comfortable with the Russian culture than American culture.

[Crunchy Frog]

9. It's the power of belligerent nationalism.

I've seen too many accounts of Russians outside Russian who support this, despite having access to information, and no fear from authorities.

[NCjack]

3. Maybe there is something to the idea that living long periods of the year where the

temperature is below freezing causes the brain to shrink.

[kentuck]

4. Most countries have their nationalistic tendencies...

Russia and America are likely very similar in that regard?

The German people stuck with Hitler almost until the last man.

It is wise not to send America troops into Ukraine, no matter how much we might want to do that.

[Hoyt]

5. Pretty much what every invader does, lie.

[Lovie777]

6. The polling is extremely flawed . . . . .

or better yet - propaganda.

[kentuck]

7. When you are an autocrat...

...you get to make your own polls.

[PortTack]

11. This!

[moondust]

8. Some history.

From a native Austrian with a PhD in political science.

Published March 2015 (after annexation of Crimea)

Putin and the Inferiority Complex of Russia

~
...it is not too far fetched to claim around 60–70% of Russians support Putin and his aggression in neighboring Ukraine, which they wrongly perceive as a heroic standoff with the West.

The problem here is the Russian people need to realize Vladimir Putin is not their hero, but villain. They need to rise above primitive chest-beating macho nationalism that has led to the violent expansion of Russian territory in Georgia and now in Ukraine. This rallying behind the rhetoric of their nationalist and imperialist leader Vladimir Putin, is rooted in the inferiority complex that Russians have towards the West. Russia has always been a few steps behind western civilization while admiring the culture and sophistication of the West (German poets and culture in the 19th century, or when the Soviet Union fell they couldn’t wait to get their hands on American Levi’s and pop culture). So this latest nationalistic fervor is part of their desperate need to gain the respect and acknowledgment of the west and be seen as an equal. But they aren’t equal, and in denial.

Russian propaganda of late has successfully hypnotized it’s population in believing the West wants to weaken it and prevent it from becoming a serious competitor to the current Anglo-Sachsen trans-Atlantic world hegemony.
~

Maybe another contributing factor is a lack of moral teaching in Russia. Many in the West develop at least some moral character in church with things like "Do unto others...," "Love thy neighbor...," "Welcome the stranger...," etc. The Soviets sought to convert everyone to atheism.

~
The vast majority of people in the Russian Empire were, at the time of the revolution, religious believers, whereas the communists aimed to break the power of all religious institutions and eventually replace religious belief with atheism.
~
Religion in the Soviet Union

[PortTack]

12. So the Japanese have now thrown their lot in with the west too?

This Far East tiny island, in comparison lays claim to the Kuril Islands and are confident they could flatten the russians.

Guess it’s the old “us” against the world..if that’s really the majority attitude, they’re in for a world of hurt!!

[uponit7771]

10. A poll of Russian expats would be more credible