Peculiarities of Russian National Character

[MattSh]

I've been off in East Europe for close to 10 years now, and I'm still learning stuff and getting blindsided by some of the peculiarities. I guess you can say I highly recommend this article!

Recent events, such as the overthrow of the government in Ukraine, the secession of Crimea and its decision to join the Russian Federation, the subsequent military campaign against civilians in Eastern Ukraine, western sanctions against Russia, and, most recently, the attack on the ruble, have caused a certain phase transition to occur within Russian society, which, I believe, is very poorly, if at all, understood in the west. This lack of understanding puts Europe at a significant disadvantage in being able to negotiate an end to this crisis.

Whereas prior to these events the Russians were rather content to consider themselves “just another European country,” they have now remembered that they are a distinct civilization, with different civilizational roots (Byzantium rather than Rome)—one that has been subject to concerted western efforts to destroy it once or twice a century, be it by Sweden, Poland, France, Germany, or some combination of the above. This has conditioned the Russian character in a specific set of ways which, if not adequately understood, is likely to lead to disaster for Europe and the world.

Lest you think that Byzantium is some minor cultural influence on Russia, it is, in fact, rather key. Byzantine cultural influences, which came along with Orthodox Christianity, first through Crimea (the birthplace of Christianity in Russia), then through the Russian capital Kiev (the same Kiev that is now the capital of Ukraine), allowed Russia to leapfrog across a millennium or so of cultural development. Such influences include the opaque and ponderously bureaucratic nature of Russian governance, which the westerners, who love transparency (if only in others) find so unnerving, along with many other things. Russians sometimes like to call Moscow the Third Rome—third after Rome itself and Constantinople—and this is not an entirely empty claim. But this is not to say that Russian civilization is derivative; yes, it has managed to absorb the entire classical heritage, viewed through a distinctly eastern lens, but its vast northern environment has transformed that heritage into something radically different.

Since this subject is of overwhelming complexity, I will focus on just four factors, which I find essential for understanding the transformation we are currently witnessing.

http://cluborlov.blogspot.com/2015/08/peculiarities-of-russian-national.html

[True Blue Door]

1. "concerted western efforts to destroy it" LOL.

Russia has one and only one problem where the West is concerned: Vladimir Putin.

Any claim to the contrary is propaganda by Putin himself, backed up by his iron-clad hold on the Russian media and cold-blooded murders of journalists and opposition leaders.

Stop treating this place as a dumping ground for the lies of a mass-murdering tyrant. Crimea "seceded" like the Sudetenland.

[bemildred]

2. Well personally I think it is a mistake for a great power to let its policy be driven by

these pissing contests between and about various "big dick" leaders like Putin. It ought not be about Putin, it ought be about Ukraine and its people and what helps them best.

[True Blue Door]

7. Ukraine is a sovereign country. What it does is its own decision.

And if Vladimir Putin feels like putting his hands on the scales with weapons and soldiers going to terrorists, the scales will be balanced in other ways.

I hope he enjoys the little strip of land he stole, because he lost the rest of Ukraine to NATO in that single moment - which wouldn't have happened if he had just left them alone.

BTW, Glorious Leader Putin deserves credit for reawakening and reuniting NATO. It was getting a little moth-eaten until he brought the crazy and reminded everyone why free people have to stick together.

[bemildred]

10. Right, Putin, Putin, Putin ...nt

[True Blue Door]

14. He is personally the source of the problem in the region.

[bemildred]

15. Right. Everything would be better if only he would go away.

Of course, how could one not see?

Iraq is better now that Saddam is gone away.
Libya is better now that Ghadaffi is gone away.
Syria is better and Assad is not even gone away yet.
Egypt is better now that Morsi is gone away.
Yemen will be better soon when Saleh is gone away.
Ukraine is already much better now that Yanukovich is gone away,
and it would be just fucking perfect now if not for that bastard Putin.

[True Blue Door]

18. Russia would do just fine with a leader who doesn't murder journalists or invade his neighbors.

Don't give me that sycophantic bullshit that Putin is the Atlas who holds his people's fate in his hands. He's a murdering parasite single-handedly responsible for his country's present problems.

[geek tragedy]

23. I know, right? Putin is so out of step with the long history

of progressive reformers throughout Russian history.

[geek tragedy]

22. That's not true. Russia has been an expansionist, imperialist, nationalist

authoritarian, militaristic power for its entire existence.

Putin is a product of Russia's pathologies, not their cause.

[MattSh]

3. Spoken like a true worshipper of the western mainstream media.

Hey, how are the Kardashians doing anyway?

Of course, I don't give a shit about the Kardashians. But that's the only thing the USA mainstream media can keep you reliably informed about.

[Joe Chi Minh]

5. If he can drag himslef away from the Kardashians, he should read this :

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2015/08/16/putin-is-winning-the-war-against-satan-worshipers-and-new-world-order-agents/

[FlatBaroque]

6. LOL

I'm surprised the rest of the gang has not yet arrived, and with equally noteworthy commentary. Great article. I've read a few things at that site that have been remarkably informative, such as this piece.

[True Blue Door]

8. Spoken like a paid Putin troll.

What is it you guys don't get about the fact that this is a liberal website? This is not the forum to spew fascist dogma.

People who come here spewing the lies of a mass-murdering tyrant are not welcome.

Find a source of income that doesn't involve undermining the liberty and security of humankind.

[LiberalEsto]

12. +100 nt

[bemildred]

4. Putin to be notable absence from Ukraine crisis talks in Berlin

KIEV: The heads of Germany and France will meet Kiev's pro-Western leader in Berlin on Monday (Aug 24) for Ukrainian crisis talks most notable for their diplomatically charged exclusion of Russia's Vladimir Putin.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande have put enormous political stakes on resolving Ukraine's 16-month pro-Russian uprising and returning peace to the European Union's turbulent eastern front.

They spent 17 hours locked up with Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in the Belarussian capital Minsk in February before emerging with a peace deal that promised to end the fighting quickly and resolve all political disputes by the end of the year.

Yet the so-called Minsk II accord was broken by the warring sides instantly and repeatedly.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/putin-to-be-notable/2067868.html

[MBS]

11. " " " " " n/tt

[LiberalEsto]

13. Here's your worst nightmare: Putin vs. President Donald Trump

Nuclear destruction, anyone?

[Hortensis]

9. I don't know. 74% of Russians now live in urban areas. I'm guessing most would die if they

abandoned the cities as a defense strategy, even in summer. Certainly a lot more 22,000,000. He doesn't wonder if they might even be more difficult to mobilize, but I am. Russia is no longer a nation mostly of agrarian peasants, retreating to lands familiar from long hunts -- any more than we are. Even just a hundred years ago some 80% of American households grew at least some food. Contrast that with today.

Thanks for posting this very interesting article in any case. The pride of this Russian nationalist is such a contrast to the hostile, demoralized noise from certain of our neighbors. And I just took my first walking tour of Muransk courtesy of Google, shot during daylight months, of course.

[Blue_Tires]

16. Oh? And just where in Eastern Europe are you?

[MattSh]

17. Skeptical, huh?

Well, I'm in Kiev, Ukraine and have the photos to prove it...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattsh/

Plus some Moscow, Chernobyl, Turkey, Egypt, and others throw in for good measure.

[swilton]

19. Excellent read

Keep those cards and letters coming!

[treestar]

20. Seems contradictory

to say they consider Ukraine an invasion, but consider they are never invaded successfully. If they are so easy to invade, then successful should be similarly easily considered.

[geek tragedy]

21. Lol, poor Russia, persecuted by those decadent, homosexual-loving Europeans.

They're about due for another 1000 leap forward in their culture, laggards that they are.

[Uncle Joe]

25. I believe that's a sound analysis of the Russian psyche.

Thanks for the thread, MattSh.