Three videos to watch to understand Russia's motives without your western biases

[Bucky]

I recommend watching in reverse chrono order (the order presented here in this post) because the commentator (Vlad Vexler) begins but reminding you that you mostly think about Russia through western eyes and western frames of reference. And by you, of course, I mean me.



Apr 17, 2022 - The soul of Russia. Also, it's important for you to understand that, in Putin's mind, this isn't a Russia-vs-Ukraine war. (Bonus Content: Francis Fukuyama is an idiot)

March 16th, 2022 - The mind of Vladimir Putin, how he thinks a nuclear war won't be such a much, and why his target will probably be in Poland or Bulgaria

March 13th, 2022 - About the power blocs in the Kremlin and why the people are still important under a tyrant

[brooklynite]

1. And who is he?

[Bucky]

2. He's a British podcaster and YouTuber, born in Russia,

He seems to focus on philosophy and music mostly, but also seems well read in current Kremlin politics. I found his analysis even handed and insightful.

[jmbar2]

3. Good find!

His views align really well with the work of Timothy Snyder (On Tyranny). Thanks for posting.

[Wounded Bear]

4. K & R...nt

[Bucky]

5. Thanks

For me, the light bulb moment is when he points out that Putin sees the "denazification" (eye roll) of Ukraine as purging Western corruption from his little brother's country and that Bolshevik communism (as opposed to Stalinist communism) was as much as a western intrusion into Russia's sphere as neoliberal capitalism is.

I forget which video that is. But that really helped me to understand why he loves the more murdery Stalin over linen

[peggysue2]

6. K&R. Chilling and very informative

Also underscores the real danger we're (the world) is in involving a strategic nuclear strike, something Putin is open to if conventional weapons fail to produce a military success.

Informed discomfort is something I've been reading from other sources, a time not to panic but to run every move through a escalating nuclear filter because at the end of the day (or days) the decision to go nuclear, a first strike, will be made by Putin and his inner circle, not the West.

Unless he's stopped which does not sound likely.

Tom Nichols had a thread about his own concern about Putin's nuclear option, how the danger is just as serious as the Cuban Missile Crisis when we came a whisker away from mutual annihilation.

Really appreciate the historical/ahistorical background on the Russian mindset, the idea that Russia is a force of nature driven by a divine hand as it 'gallops' across the landscape to its destiny of glory and Empire. Sounds like a turn on Manifest Destiny.

Anyway, lots here, rich material to think about (worry about).

Thanks for putting up the material. Something we should all view and digest in these dangerous, dicey times.