How Putin’s world makes sense

Parašiau kai ką ir angliškai – tai bene pirmasis bandymas blogeriauti angliškai. Parašyta 2014 m. balandžio 28 d.

****

Recently, on April 17, Vladimir Putin had his traditional live broadcast Q&A session, which lasted four hours. This bi-annual event by Putin receives a lot of attention inside Russia and abroad. Some highlights of the last one are, for example, available here.

These sessions, though staged, tell us a lot about what the “public” Putin thinks or is prepared to say aloud. We might be outraged by most of the ideas, but actually they make sense not only in Putin’s head, not only in Russia, but for the outside observers as well.

A lot of topics were touched upon during these four hours: inevitably Ukraine, Crimea, relations with Europe and the US, also the Olympic games, the flood in the Far East, a variety of other domestic issues with some awkward (first lady) or bizarre (special guest Snowden) moments.

For me, the most memorable moment happened to be the last minutes of the session after the final “philosophical” question was read: what is it to be Russian? Putin indeed went deep.

We found out that “the Russian person or, on a broader scale, a person of the Russian world, primarily thinks about his or her highest moral designation, some highest moral truths”. That person “does not concentrate on his or her own precious personality” and “does not open himself outward”, is prepared to die “for one’s friends, one’s people or for the homeland”. “Feelings of fellowship and family values”, heroism and sacrifice were also mentioned.

“Of course, we are less pragmatic, less calculating than representatives of other peoples, and we have bigger hearts. Maybe this is a reflection of the grandeur of our country and its boundless expanses. Our people have a more generous spirit.” (Read in English, or watch in Russian.)

These ideas are neither original nor new. Anybody who has read 19th century Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky would recognize these ideas immediately. Openness of the Russian soul is the popular stereotype about Russians among both its friends and its skeptics.

The president does not have to be original, but his words are far from random. His image of Russians resonated inside Russia and abroad. It is the message everybody expects to hear; even the most vocal critics of primordialism would expect that from the current Russian president. Putin and his advisers understand that very well and play it to their advantage both domestically and abroad.

People of Russia are sincere, open, and prepared to die for their country, the message says. Its rulers understand and care about this sensibility by trying to restore Russia’s past glory, making Russians feel proud of their country, whatever or how many problems it has. In this way, Putin becomes the paternalistic and trustful leader who cares about the people. This logic then can be easily extended further to “our people” outside Russia’s borders, and their protection. And suddenly this discourse starts making more sense. His people need protection and he is going to provide it everywhere.

This paternalistic rhetoric combined with yet another prevalent narrative – that Russia is surrounded by enemies, especially from the West – creates the space for the assertive leader. The leader who stands up against this bullying, who resists the dominant forces (i.e., the US), who does it resolutely. If you accept such an image of your nation, it becomes not so difficult to accept that particular idea of the leader.

Due to different reasons, such paternalistic rhetoric works for Westerners as well. Westerners love to talk about the irrationality, passion, traditionalism of Russians, about their expansive territory and their uniqueness. These descriptions supposedly explain the actions of a country that is difficult to understand. They put Russia into a special place by treating it as uncivilized, undeveloped, as a country perpetually looking for itself, or as naturally “imperialistic”. Thus, when Putin talks about the nation, we are not surprised. It resonates with what we already know about Russia.

The second message Putin repeats constantly and which he also sent out during his live session is that Western nations were reluctant to understand Russia’s point of view. The West still has difficulties sending resolute messages to Russia or finding workable solutions to the Ukrainian crisis. Russia and its main leader seem immune to many threats: they either ignore the possible economic consequences, or make derisive comments about the sanctions. The West does not understand that Putin uses these stereotypes so that what Russia currently is doing would be accepted as normal. He might be a bad guy but we have an explanation why.

The problem is not that the West is too appeasing. The problem is that Putin is playing a different game. Currently, the biggest opponent for Putin is not the U.S., nor Ukraine, nor the liberals in the West. His main opponent is history. Already in his third term, Putin is getting older; he is already part of Russia’s early 21st century history. He is the stabilizer, the person who brought order to suffering Russia after the turbulent 1990s, who tamed the powerful oligarchs, who strengthened Russia’s regional power, its influence in the neighboring space.

It is a good image to leave behind, but it is hardly memorable or impressive. Recent events (adding the Sochi Olympics to the mix) demonstrate that Putin wants to go down in history as something bigger – as a great strategic leader of Russia, and one who understood its people and what Russians need – the feeling that they are a great, sincere nation that just wants to be appreciated. And they have a leader who has accomplished that.

It is crucial to realize that Russia is not only Putin, his thinking and desires. Putin acts in an environment that makes his actions possible. Thus, another question is how it becomes possible to have such an environment where part of ruling elite just became silent and a large part of the population accepts Russia’s current foreign policy decisions with joy. But that is a question for the next comment.

First appeared in Baltic Scholars for Ukraine – Stanford Libraries tinklaraštyje

Comments 88

  1. work in China parašė:

    Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google,
    and found that it is truly informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels.
    I will be grateful if you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your
    writing. Cheers!

    balandžio 19, 2016, 00:52
  2. Duane Riofrio parašė:

    bouwbedrijf de vree

    birželio 24, 2017, 12:14
  3. Sales Leads parašė:

    We absolutely love your blog and find nearly all of your post’s to be what precisely I’m looking for. can you offer guest writers to write content for you? I wouldn’t mind composing a post or elaborating on some of the subjects you write with regards to here. Again, awesome web site!

    vasario 7, 2018, 05:54
  4. Low Cost Franchises parašė:

    Thanks on your marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it, you could be a great author.I will make sure to bookmark your blog and will come back in the future. I want to encourage you to continue your great job, have a nice holiday weekend!

    gegužės 2, 2018, 05:15
  5. online franchise opportunities parašė:

    I am really loving the theme/design of your site. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility issues? A couple of my blog visitors have complained about my site not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome. Do you have any suggestions to help fix this issue?

    birželio 5, 2018, 01:12
  6. Qualified Leads parašė:

    We absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your post’s to be exactly what I’m looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content available for you? I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on most of the subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome blog!

    vasario 20, 2019, 17:49
  7. Exec Leads parašė:

    Admiring the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you offer. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed information. Wonderful read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

    vasario 28, 2019, 21:57
  8. pharmacy franchise opportunities parašė:

    Currently it looks like Expression Engine is the preferred blogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?

    kovo 11, 2019, 17:38
  9. SEO Freelancer India parašė:

    looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content available for you?

    rugsėjo 16, 2020, 10:42
  10. SEO DESA parašė:

    what you’re using on your blog?

    kovo 13, 2021, 05:49
  11. Miami Real Estate parašė:

    This content is simply exciting and creative. I have been deciding on a institutional move and this has helped me with one aspect.

    sausio 14, 2022, 15:08
  12. Harry Kane parašė:

    google

    liepos 18, 2022, 10:37
  13. geometry dash parašė:

    Simply put, this work is fascinating and original. This has helped me with one component of my decision to move into an institution.

    rugpjūčio 25, 2022, 09:35
  14. SubwayLiveIQ parašė:

    Thank you for this informative blog.

    vasario 3, 2023, 07:06
  15. upsers account parašė:

    Thanks for the information, I found a lot of interesting information here. Keep sharing such informative post.

    vasario 11, 2023, 10:11
  16. CheckMyRota App parašė:

    This works really well for me, thank you! Facing same issue here. Help is appreciated.
    https://www.checkmyrota.net/

    vasario 13, 2023, 12:20
  17. sara parašė:

    https://www.myadvocateaurora.net/

    thanks

    vasario 15, 2023, 11:45
  18. dinar chronicles parašė:

    Your article content is being very much interested, I am very impressed with your post.
    https://apps.apple.com/vn/app/dinar-chronics/id164

    vasario 17, 2023, 11:06
  19. Teco Login parašė:

    Thank you for this informative blog.

    vasario 22, 2023, 10:30
  20. My Herbalife parašė:

    „Putin’s World“ is a book by Angela Stent that explores Vladimir Putin’s vision for Russia’s role in the world and analyzes his policies and actions through the lens of Russian history and culture.

    vasario 25, 2023, 07:12
  21. My Sainsburys parašė:

    This is a very informative blog for me. I am very much benefited after reading this blog.

    vasario 25, 2023, 11:05
  22. Drift Hunters parašė:

    Browser games can keep you entertained for hours. this is probably a hyperlink. it opens up an extremely flaming world of Drift Hunters.

    balandžio 7, 2023, 04:50
  23. najas99486 parašė:

    TellPopeyes survey allows restaurants to get feedback from customers about their dining experience and helps them serve better.

    balandžio 10, 2023, 12:06
  24. cuphead parašė:

    Thank you for sharing!

    gegužės 4, 2023, 09:49
  25. Elija11 parašė:

    I read this article. I think You put a great deal of exertion to make this article. I like your work.

    gegužės 8, 2023, 07:11
  26. stumble guys 2 parašė:

    Great article. I’ve been checking this blog constantly and I’m impressed! Extremely useful information, especially the last part where wheel spinner made me process a lot of information. I have been looking for this information for a long time. thanks and good luck!

    gegužės 22, 2023, 05:14
  27. KDealer Access parašė:

    Start by reading the article carefully and try to understand the main points.
    KDealer Access

    gegužės 22, 2023, 11:01
  28. pomij30257 parašė:

    It’s great to be here with everyone, I have a lot of knowledge from what you share cashewsinfo

    birželio 5, 2023, 10:20
  29. PrepaidGiftBalance parašė:

    Your article is being very much interesting and useful. Keep it up.

    birželio 13, 2023, 06:25
  30. poppy playtime parašė:

    We are quite grateful that you spent some of your time and effort to clarify all of this for us. The kind of blog content that you are referring to has been of great assistance to me.

    liepos 7, 2023, 05:19
  31. who are ya parašė:

    Thank you for providing such useful information. I’ve been having trouble coming up with many questions about this topic. I’ll stick with you!

    liepos 15, 2023, 10:59
  32. dordle parašė:

    What you share has a lot of useful information, very useful to me, and good for the community in general. Please let us know what’s going on. special thanks!

    rugpjūčio 1, 2023, 06:40
  33. contexto parašė:

    They must be emotionally and physically strong, and able to be unaffected by what they see, whether in the past or in the future.

    rugpjūčio 10, 2023, 06:47
  34. flagle parašė:

    The player’s challenge in Flagle is to guess which country’s hidden flag is in up to 6 guesses. The flag will be divided into 6 puzzle pieces, through each guess, clues will be provided

    rugpjūčio 12, 2023, 05:25
  35. cryptorobotics parašė:

    The formula used to derive the value of 0.0125%, in this case, is as follows: (1 million / 8 billion) * 100 = 0.0125%. Therefore, 1 million (number of wallets) is divided by 8 billion (total population), and then the result is multiplied by 100 to obtain the percentage value. Considering that there are approximately 100 million US dollar millionaires worldwide (1.25% of the population), owning 1 whole bitcoin already becomes quite rare and privileged. These figures indicate the significant economic role of Bitcoin and its position as a high-value digital asset: https://cryptorobotics.co/bitcoin/.

    rugpjūčio 15, 2023, 19:59
  36. vlone hoodie purple parašė:

    2013 vlone on sale for you in our vlone store, welcome to buy our high quality vlone now.

    rugsėjo 8, 2023, 16:40
  37. monney parašė:

    I want to convey to you a message: in your leisure time, have fun and engage in activities you enjoy. Foodle is one such activity.

    spalio 6, 2023, 10:55
  38. 1040 Instructions 20 parašė:

    You should file Form 1040 Schedule 2 along with Form 1040, Form 1040-SR, or Form 1040-NR to report taxes not included in the basic tax forms taxuni and zrivo and irs, intuit, turbotax.

    spalio 23, 2023, 09:31
  39. zrivo tax parašė:

    You should file Form 1040 Schedule 2 along with Form 1040, Form 1040-SR, or Form 1040-NR to report taxes not included in the basic tax forms taxuni and zrivo and irs, intuit, turbotax.

    lapkričio 16, 2023, 04:54
  40. spacebar clicker parašė:

    The free version acts as a catalyst for creativity, inspiring the development of new tools and solutions that leverage the power of natural language processing.

    lapkričio 20, 2023, 05:07
  41. poppy playtime parašė:

    It is both kind and thoughtful at the same time. This is an extremely interesting blog. The act of linking is one that can be of great benefit. You have been of tremendous assistance to a large number of people who frequent the site and supply them with pertinent information.

    gruodžio 4, 2023, 06:55
  42. Esco Bars H2O 6000 F parašė:

    While electric smoke vapes Products are often considered a less harmful alternative to traditional smoking, they are not without risks. The long-term health effects of vaping are still being studied, and some concerns include nicotine addiction, lung issues, and potential exposure to harmful chemicals.

    sausio 23, 2024, 09:30
  43. duck life parašė:

    It’s worth noting the importance of Vladimir Putin’s live televised Q&A sessions, since they reveal insights into his public image and the views he’s ready to communicate. These activities undoubtedly draw a lot of interest, both in Russia and throughout the world.

    sausio 25, 2024, 09:13
  44. çocuk akıllı saat parašė:

    Çocuk akıllı saati aramasıyla ilgili 21 adet ürün bulundu. Akıllı Çocuk Saati ve saatleri – Görüntülü Görüşme Özellikli – Pembe ·

    vasario 20, 2024, 20:53
  45. prodentim parašė:

    I appreciate the balanced approach taken in this article.

    kovo 9, 2024, 11:58
  46. deborah parašė:

    Thanks for share !!!! My Indigo Card

    kovo 22, 2024, 12:22
  47. Suliya parašė:

    good post

    kovo 28, 2024, 05:59
  48. schmitt's farm parašė:

    I’m constantly amazed by the depth of your expertise. Thank you for sharing it with us.

    balandžio 21, 2024, 09:58
  49. uno online parašė:

    It’s incredible! We can really benefit from your excellent and helpful post! We really appreciate you taking the time to share with us.

    balandžio 26, 2024, 05:53
  50. Drift Hunters parašė:

    Your analysis offers valuable insights into Putin’s worldview and the broader dynamics shaping Russian politics and foreign policy.

    gegužės 28, 2024, 09:32
  51. Vidmate parašė:

    VidMate is a versatile video downloader and media player app that allows users to seamlessly download videos from various online platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and more. It offers a user-friendly interface and supports high-speed downloads, enabling users to enjoy their favorite videos offline.

    birželio 25, 2024, 20:29
  52. spa little elm parašė:

    Med Spa in Little Elm offers a wide range of high-quality facial services and treatments tailored to rejuvenate and revitalize your skin. Known for providing the best facial treatments in Little Elm, Malkaspa.com Med Spa specializes in deep cleansing facials that thoroughly purify your skin, removing impurities and leaving you with a refreshed and glowing complexion. Their expert team ensures a luxurious and personalized experience, making it the perfect destination for all your skincare needs.

    birželio 29, 2024, 05:40
  53. wm doll parašė:

    The fitness tracker has helped me stay motivated and active.

    birželio 29, 2024, 07:04
  54. aniworld.to parašė:

    AniWorld ist eine erstklassige Streaming-Plattform für Anime-Liebhaber und bietet eine riesige Bibliothek von Anime-Serien und Filmen in allen Genres. Unsere benutzerfreundliche Oberfläche, personalisierte Empfehlungen und Community Funktionen verbessern Ihr Seherlebnis. aniworld.to ist auf mehreren Geräten verfügbar und bietet sowohl kostenlose als auch Premium-Abonnementpläne. Tauchen Sie ein in die Welt der Anime mit AniWorld und verbinden Sie sich mit Fans weltweit!

    liepos 2, 2024, 15:13
  55. doramaswow parašė:

    It’s incredible! We truly benefit from your excellent and helpful post. Thank you for taking the time to share it with us; we really appreciate it. doramasflix .Thanks.

    liepos 15, 2024, 21:34
  56. slope parašė:

    This paper is quite comprehensive and educational, covering a lot of ground.

    liepos 17, 2024, 13:14
  57. doramavip parašė:

    Ver Lo último the boyfriend cap 7 Sub Español full online en Calidad HD en DoramasVIP.

    https://doramavip.com/

    liepos 24, 2024, 21:38
  58. heidi klum nude parašė:

    Excellent, what a website it is! This web site presents valuable
    data to us, keep it up.

    rugpjūčio 8, 2024, 06:09
  59. hipstoreios.com parašė:

    Discover a wide range of apps and games with hipstoreios.com, a prominent third-party app store for iOS devices that provides access to content beyond the official Apple App Store.

    rugpjūčio 8, 2024, 08:40
  60. Elettra Tempocasa parašė:

    Elettra Tempocasa stellt Ihnen in Italien umfassende Immobilienlösungen zur Verfügung. Um den Elettra Tempocasa Login auf Ihrem mobilen Gerät oder Desktop zu nutzen, laden Sie die App aus dem App Store oder Google Play Store herunter und installieren Sie sie.

    rugpjūčio 11, 2024, 15:29
  61. dfghjyiijij parašė:

    Kinemaster offers top notch video altering with proficient altering apparatuses and astounding elements. Appreciate multi-facet altering with the green screen innovation of Chroma Key.

    rugpjūčio 13, 2024, 09:15
  62. pink parašė:

    I’m obsessed with the fit and feel of this pink palm puff hoodie.

    rugpjūčio 18, 2024, 11:36
  63. drift boss parašė:

    Thanks for sharing about this!

    rugpjūčio 28, 2024, 18:20
  64. Instapro Download parašė:

    Download Insta Pro APK Updated Version For Android. Instagram Pro Developed by Sam Provides Extra Features like Hide Stories, App Lock & Font Styles. https://instapro.net.co/

    rugsėjo 8, 2024, 08:43
  65. fnaf parašė:

    Your blog taught me a lot, and to have more interesting experiences, you can learn about past video games. Playing with you in the past would be much awaited!

    rugsėjo 9, 2024, 09:39
  66. myPascoConnect parašė:

    I like the way you made this article. Short but juicy. Thanks for sharing!

    rugsėjo 9, 2024, 12:44
  67. hayatesee parašė:

    XenderAPK.ru: XenderAPK.ru is a platform dedicated to providing users with the latest version of the Xender app, a popular file-sharing tool. With Xender, users can transfer files across different devices without needing an internet connection, making it a convenient choice for quick and efficient file management.

    rugsėjo 10, 2024, 14:35
  68. hayatesee parašė:

    VidMateOld.pro: VidMateOld.pro offers access to older versions of the VidMate app, which is used for downloading videos from various platforms. If you prefer an earlier version of VidMate or need it for compatibility reasons, this site provides a safe repository of past releases.

    rugsėjo 10, 2024, 14:35
  69. hayatesee parašė:

    YodesiTV.ru: YodesiTV.ru is a streaming site that provides access to a wide range of TV shows and movies. Users can explore an extensive library of content from various genres, catering to diverse entertainment preferences.

    rugsėjo 10, 2024, 14:36
  70. Lion parašė:

    Dinosaur Game invites you to step back in time to a world filled with danger and excitement. As a mighty dinosaur, you’ll navigate through treacherous terrains, dodging obstacles and collecting power-ups to enhance your journey

    rugsėjo 17, 2024, 11:44
  71. bitlife parašė:

    In these meetings, Putin’s demeanor conveys not only his own views but also the image he wishes to project to audiences in his home country as well as abroad.

    rugsėjo 19, 2024, 13:39
  72. URL parašė:

    Your insights are always valuable. Thanks for sharing!

    rugsėjo 25, 2024, 18:05
  73. slope parašė:

    I believe that with the information you share, it will bring a lot of value to the readers and I hope that they will absorb the good and useful things.

    rugsėjo 26, 2024, 09:09
  74. happy wheels parašė:

    I came upon another website that was discussing this subject in greater detail a few months ago. If you were able to shed some light on what is going on in the world, I am grateful to you. Certain websites have a clear bias toward aspects such as these. In light of this, what do you believe the general direction of the industry will be?

    spalio 21, 2024, 11:01
  75. celinetoto parašė:

    What i don’t understood is in truth how you’re now not really a lot more smartly-favored than you may be right now.
    You’re so intelligent. You recognize therefore considerably relating to this subject, made me
    for my part believe it from numerous numerous angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be fascinated unless it’s something to accomplish with Woman gaga!
    Your own stuffs outstanding. Always handle it up!

    spalio 26, 2024, 00:07
  76. Area parašė:

    This idea brings a refreshing take on the topic and adds depth to the conversation.

    spalio 27, 2024, 21:51
  77. Bflix parašė:

    Bflix is an online streaming platform that offers a wide variety of movies and TV shows.

    lapkričio 4, 2024, 21:09
  78. 24kbet parašė:

    Thank you for submitting your blog post; we’re excited to accept it and look forward to sharing your insightful content with our readers!

    24kbet

    lapkričio 12, 2024, 06:39
  79. https://capcutt.net/ parašė:

    CapCut is a widely-used video editing app that provides easy-to-use tools like effects, transitions, and music integration. It’s especially popular for creating engaging short videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

    lapkričio 14, 2024, 09:48
  80. aputsiaqgeisler parašė:

    At https://beyond-memories.com/, we believe in preserving the moments that matter most. Our expertly crafted keepsakes go beyond traditional memorabilia, capturing the essence of your most cherished memories in ways words alone cannot express. Whether it’s a personalized piece of art, a custom heirloom, or a beautifully designed photo album, we transform your stories into timeless treasures. Celebrate life’s milestones with something uniquely yours. Let us help you preserve the legacy of love, laughter, and unforgettable moments—for generations to come. Experience the art of memory-making with Beyond Memories.

    lapkričio 19, 2024, 12:32
  81. VidMate parašė:

    However, it has some issues of constant presence of ads during its use can be irritating, significantly its effectsits users. this VidMate Download remains one of the best options

    lapkričio 21, 2024, 13:48
  82. Run 3 parašė:

    This game is so cool!

    lapkričio 25, 2024, 12:53
  83. 24kbet parašė:

    Fantastic post! I completely agree that guest posting is a powerful way to build authority and expand your reach, but the real success comes from choosing the right platforms and crafting content that resonates with the audience

    24kbet

    lapkričio 26, 2024, 07:46
  84. Raz Vape Flavors parašė:

    Raz Vape’s long-lasting battery life guarantees extended usage, making it ideal for those who value reliability and convenience in vaping.

    lapkričio 30, 2024, 12:43
  85. 82 lottery download parašė:

    What a great article, cant wait to read more about your articles. You can check my contents too. Thank you – 82 lottery app

    gruodžio 6, 2024, 07:47
  86. ftm packer parašė:

    Great post! I’ve been ftm looking for a reliable air purifier for my home, and this one seems perfect.

    gruodžio 16, 2024, 06:36
  87. Moonton parašė:

    game fps offline offline yang seru dan adiktif menanti kamu! Pilih game FPS offline untuk Android dengan grafis terbaik dan gameplay penuh aksi tanpa harus terhubung ke internet.“

    gruodžio 16, 2024, 16:57
  88. gadgets3434 parašė:

    So far, the app is only supported by Android devices and gadgets. Therefore only Andoird users can go for Tubemate App Download Latest version

    gruodžio 19, 2024, 07:34

Komentuoti

Jūsų el.pašto adresas niekada nebus paviešintas ar perduotas. Privalomi užpildyti laukai yra pažymėti *