I agree with Vlad, it makes sense to view this Russo-Ukrainian war as a colonial relationship and, in my view, a fight for freedom from the colonial oppressor.
Guys in political science are often involved in autoerotism. It doesn't matter how you interpret the meaning of the war. The only thing that matters is the kinetic aspect of it, ie..people are dying. Whether it was for colonialism, Putin woke up on the wrong side of the bed or something else, it doesn't matter. And these morons, the russian population will suffer for the next 20 years. They are responsible for this as much as Putin.
I think it's a bit different than that. Russians seem to be convinced they have subjugated Ukrainians to the point that they are their own, only less civilised. Like rural cousins, to whom Russians brought civilisation and 'helped them' build cities, industry etc. That's why Russians feel so much hatred towards Ukraine - they treat them as 'traitors'. It's not just a conquered nation, it's a nation that is supposed to be 'grateful' for centuries of subjugation and exploitation.
@@YsCosmia absolutely. British colonialist views fed Brexit, for example. Britain is learning that without an Empire it weakened the country (an Empire gives you captive markets you can force to take your goods and you can force them to have customs terms that favour the coloniser over other countries). Russia hates that Ukraine wants to make deals in Ukraine's interest rather than ones that are in Russia's interest.
peculiar word to use i dont like it its meaning is ....disgusting... thare is only one word to use for that stop it why is that americans use peculiar sayings that are horseshit
Its not the full might of western armour. most of what Ukraine has been given is a good 30 years old. At the start of the war the Russian military was thought to be the second most powerful in the world, now it is the second most powerful in Ukraine.
The Abrams is 40 years old. Most western MBTs are at least 2 decade old. The design date of a system mean very little (if anything that’s a good thing, it means they have proven themselves against a constant barrage of attempted « innovation »)
Democracy might be seen as the best problem-solving mechanism for the relationship between the state and the individual. Common consensus can thereby respond within a political framework to the benefit of the largest number. Voter apathy is the greatest deterent to Democracy.
If we do have a stalemate IT IS like A new Cold War 1946 West Germany vs East Germany..... But Russian economy is only the same size is Italian economy so it won't survive
The Russians has to fit in a fossilfree economy. Wood industry? Adventure Tourism, Art, Art work, Hunting, Sport, Winter sport, Agriculture culture, IT, Matematics. Indo european arciology and tourism. Pay for Russian youth meeting children in neighbouring countries.
The words I'm waiting for all Russians to hear... "You guys are going to be involved in this now, all of you". The Russian famous last words; I'm apolitical, I'm not political, I don't know politics, I'm not interested in politics. My question to them is; are you Renters or Owners of your country? Because most of you are acting like Renters who aren't concerned with the way your country looks or how it's built or if it will last long term. Instead of trying to take your neighbor's house, how about fixing up your own?? If you never walk outside your home & take a good look at it from a distance you'll never really see it properly. Not many want to be involved in politics, but it's everyone's responsibility. I know what Vlad would say to this... they're not citizens, they are a population. It's not enough anymore. 😏 And we should start with Truth matters! 🤍
Planes fall out of the sky; I think Mr. Putin will take a submarine to Argentina. 🌞. (Vlad's right, Mr Putin may be removed to one of his Dachas or Villas, which hopefully takes away his fear of leaving power because of his Gaddafi demise phobia, so maybe he will let go of the reigns more peacefully.)
And so the WW2 russian meat grinder orc machine finally revs up its engines...this is like winning against Germany again except Ukraine is not it the same league as Germany in WW2 and the American forces are only shouting insults from the sidelines as they look on waving furiously and singing songs about freedom and democracy.
Thank for the channel. Vlad is pure gold and we are very lucky to have him. He brings readings and ideas that most of us haven't seen. He also offers frames of language to help us find our own focusses and perspectives. Great questions and excellent commentary by the host also. Kisses all round. In the end we all need a functional, sane, and beautiful Russia. Together we must demolish the errors of the past and find the secrets of a viable future.
Vexler is a good analyst but he's very wrong here about putin's international crimes being trumped by his callous attitude towards the russian people. Russians being sent to die by the animal they have put in charge is completely irrelevant when set beside the crimes Russia is and has committed towards neighbouring/foreign populations. Russians are responsible for whatever happens too them for allowing putin and his gang to maintain power. Ukrainians are completely innocent. And actually "in the end" we need Russia as a failed state, which has no ability to mount full scale attacks on it's neighbours. In a similar vein to the defanging of Iraq and Libya.
@@toi_techno if you watch the video on Vlad's channel he does say the Russian people are responsible. However reconciliation requires forgiveness. USA failed in integrating the Taliban (they had the chance). USA pushed Britain to accept IRA senior people into government (and it worked). Ultimately ideology softens when you have to work together and hardens when you can only fight.
@@Kotch111 And forgiveness, importantly requires CESSATION of aggression, cessation of violence, cessation of psychosocial attack- by the latter of course, I mean induction of information chaos (mixed use of real facts with specious interpretations and falsehoods). As we know, armistice retains former combatants in opposition, merely without active, attributable violence. Armistice does NOT include active forgiveness. Empathy has been for centuries now defined as "putting oneself in another's conceptual and emotional position." Empathy is certainly the sine qua non of forgiveness. Therapies and forgiveness are based upon effortful empathy. To claim that the "USA" failed in integrating Taliban, denies agency in individuals, and is an extreme cognitive error. Diplomats engage in international non-war, nonviolent discourse. When a diplomat expresses enmity, it is the individual who faile. Individuals engage in propaganda , whether as agents of media corporate policies, which originate in individuals. Rupert Murdoch engaged in creating a disinformation network of false news, perhaps due to the profit increase he discovered from fostering enraged dispute in his Australian businesses. He was granted some H1_B visa or other visa by the US Reagan administration because he invested /bought US media, and/or due to hiring some qualifying number (was it 10,000.? I have never needed an immigration visa, being a citizen, so have not checked the requirements). Interestingly, his ethos was regarded as useful against Soviet Union by USA and its republican party of the time. That party nearly completely turned its policies around by 2016 when it backed Russian Puppet ("useful idiot") Trump, who to this day is anti-ukraine due to his long-term entanglement as Russian Money "launderer." So, does forgiveness ENTAIL restorative justice? I had elder relatives who to their deaths THIS century never forgave Japan, and therefore its industries and sales in the USA by Japanese who were NOT yet born during hostilities. The clamor for "reparations" for "ancestors" over 160 years ago, is evidence of failure of people to forgive, From this we can conclude that "justice" as perceived by individuals having NO living connection to others, is REFUSAL to forgive. THe entire "white/colored thing is refusal to forgive for nonexistent crimes and wrongs. Police beating a man to death, is neither justice nor forgiveness. This raises the question, can forgiveness exist for those who suffered another's wrongdoing, when continuing intent to persist in wrongdoing occurs in those one is asked (for utilitarian or other reasons) to forgive when such a violation is held as acceptable not merely yesterday, but also tomorrow?.
Many channels like Vlad are nice and educational but still gaming you if you don’t discern his information, these channels that sprung out of the blue are described as limited hangout/controlled opposition outfits/“best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves” - Lenin For example he didn’t point out that the climate scam is a Russian hybrid war on the West why Greta never goes after China or Russia. He never told you about Anatoliy Golitsyn or how Soviet special services are behind BLM and 🏳️🌈. I can give details if someone cares
There are interesting differences between the parts of Germany, that lived under the thumb of the Soviets and those who didn't. Especially regarding the attitude towards the institutions of the state. Recently I learned that the word "solidarity" (thin relationship) has a negative meaning for the people there (even today), as solidarity was what the state asked them to show, every time the state could not provide the things they needed (empty shelves).
Where did you got that information? I actually doubt that is true the way you describe it. Maybe in regard to request of "solidarity" from the government. They probably to some extend assume that the call of "solidarity" really means exploitation. Which is true for the first call of "solidarity" (ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer), to some extend for the second call of "solidarity" (in the GDR) and they probably assume the same for the calls of "solidarity" now. But I think even that it a stretch. It´s more about general distrust of the government. Interpersonal solidarity was quite important in the GDR. It makes no sense that it has a general negative meaning.
@@JuliaMRichter Yes, thank you both. I thought about it again and I think I can expand my argument from "solidarity" demanded from the government to solidarity in regards to the whole political sphere. Which is overwhelming majority of cases when the word "solidarity" is used. You dont say "I gave my neighbor my lawn mower out of solidarity", thats true. But I still have trouble with the statement that the word "solidarity" in general has a negative meaning. In an unpolitical sense, I think its fine. Example: If a football club has financial problems and another football club helps with a charity match, its regulary called solidarity and has no negative connotation. Full discloser: I was born in the GDR (too you to really grow up there). You both gave some insights I will think about. Very interesting. Thanks! I still dont fully agree with the generalisation of the statement, but I cant dispute your experience.
Thank you so much for brining Vlad over again. I'm struggling to recall whether it was your channel that helped me discover Vlad, or the other way round, but whatever it is, it was a great day when I did. Here's wishing this channel reaches 100K subs not before long.
I am a fan. I have listened to Vexler since the war started. He is part of my self imposed reading and watching. I feel like I am in a graduate seminar
This channel has so many important voices contributing their expertise; I am currently trying to catch up on the episodes. Hearing from some contributors again shows how time has affected facts on the ground without altering the necessity of continuing support for Ukraine. 🇺🇦
Whenever I watch Vlad I feel like I’m in a back room in a Moscow saloon discussing politics with a Russian philosopher… the only thing missing is the beer and a chess board. Putin is a tsar and Rasputin in one body.
Will they still somehow avoid taking sons from upper middle class in the big cities? We see them interviewing these young people and they say that they aren’t following the war in Ukraine. The smart ones ran for the border but the rest must feel safe.
Whenever anyone claims that there are cultures that are essentially democratic or anti-democratic I point to Korea. Both regimes are clearly Korean, different from other cultures, but one is a thriving democracy and one is North Korea, practically our definition of totalitarian regime.
A democracy nurtures the idea of everybody pulling together. In a dictatorship, all people truly have is family and friends, so it's unsurprising that there is a problem with 'thin relationships'.
Democracy is not a new idea, in almost all cases democracies have imploded into two or more faction that hate each other. Look at the USA, do you see the Democrats & Republicans working together for the common good?
Democracy has a problem with clans and large groups of people. Things to keep in mind is that democracy is basically a bloodless form of War. If you forget that it will return to the blooddy form of War.
I`m from Slovakia, born in Czechoclovakia in 1989, so I haven`t experience communism/tottalitarianism firsthand, but my parents had a lot so say about it. One thing being that making everything "communal" had the exact opposite effect. Before , when you had your house, your garden, your stuff, you would take care of it as a matter of pride. But when it`s no longer yours, why should you care? Like why should I sweep the sidewalk in front of my house if it`s not mine. When you extend this to people, why should I care other other people when they`re not "mine". Also communism fostered deep mistrust in people, because you couldn`t trust your next door neighbour to not call the secret police on you. And when the state didn`t have any proof against you, they would just make life difficult for you in subtle ways, like sabotaging your work. This kind of mindset is still there even 33 years after the fall of the regime. And Czechoslovakia was on the Western most side of the Eastern block. I can`t imagine how bad it`s all the way in Russia.
@@LddStyx Bingo. Civilisation thrives when men plant trees they will never feel the shade of. When those men die out and their grand children inherit the democracy, it collapses into competing groups each trying to grab as much unearned wealth and privilege for themselves. You owe me reparations, because reasons...
I have learnt so much from Vlad and he is excellent in the way he comes across explaining certain topics and agendas. I little glimmer of light during these dark moments in war.
26:36 by looking at an extraordinarily failed political situation like the one in Russia. From my observations you could say the same about the UK right now.... Now the UK is not a dictator state but the way the people in power lie continuously and the apparent complete indifference they seem to have towards those without power and money, not unlike Putin, has been frightening...
Love that Vexler is back for a third time. His podcast with Rehi is also great. Hope to see him in future videos on this and other channels in the future.
Putting the finger exactly on the spot! Thanks for bringing Vlad back for the 3rd time. He puts every aspect in perfect perspective. Good luck with the channel.
The first and moast important step to democraty is education. First you have the capability to under stand the Status Quo second you are not so afraid about the steps to democraty that had to be taken because you know what to do. The current Russians state of mind is like the same that germans had bevor and in the 2. World War. There was indoctrinatiom, Disbelieve in the current sittuation. In Ww2 a lot of people were aware that sth. like Holokhorst was ging on but looked actively looked away. The same thing is going on in russia today. In hinsicht we could be glad that Germany was a defeted militarily and that as the consequenc people were confronted whith the through. An a change of might had accured because of that. Evan when defeated on the Battlefield there realisicly will be no occupation of Russia. And in the consequenc the change of mind like what had accured afer Ww2 in Germany through denacification will be Problematik. Therfore i am afraid the path, demand and desire for democracy will be a long one. Old minds often will not change but die. And younger minds are up to now indoctrinated the wrong way. I hope there will be change and Russians will have a Future. To this point in time I just can't see the way to that. As a German i can say there is always hope and it can be done. But the way is hard you have to take resonsabillity, have to be aware of your gilt and you have to constandly worke against extremist in the inside.
Brilliant, intelligent and Vlad I'm in awe of your wonderful command and use of English as it's not your native tongue. Russians have this concept of the rhodina, yet they seem so dissatisfied and grouchy. Do you think the geographic positioning and environmental have any bearing on this? I.e the cold, distance, positioning of ports or being on the fringe of Europe but really belonging. Thanks for your efforts. Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦
I heard from some Russians that US has a lot of people meaning also that Russia is kind of small in comparison. And Putin knows that he had a huge decline in birthrate during the 90s and have problems with the amount of people in his nation. USSR also of course lost a lot of people in the break up of big nations like Ukraine and Kazakstan. At that time USSr before the breakup to Russia was bigger in population size than US. Ukraine for exemple is between 20 to 30 percent of Russias population. So I think in that sense Putin was acting on a wish to have more people in his nation. His prime motive of course is his fear of democracy movements even though he believes them to be controlled by US and loosing his own power. Al
@@anzelmasmatutis2500 No of course not. But USSR was also controlled by Kreml and Putin is a product of USSR. So he compare Russia with USSR (not regarding communism but in might and as a superpower and people is one of those factor of being an empire). He has done those comparison many times. Why would otherwise Gorbatjov a leader that did many positive things for the russians be seen as such a bad leader in present time Russia. It is only because he is seen as a leader that weakened the empire.
@@hurmur9528 Which just shows the short sightedness of the Russian populace concerning their political system. Gorby gave them freedom from a collapsing state (it was going to collapse before he was in power anyway), and they spat in his face.
@@nonegone7170 Yes it is a sad state of affair. All this shit could have bin avoided many times. But I guess in a way he becomes his own demise because even though he was a good leader he was not a democratic leader but a democratic autocrat. And I guess this dual role could lead to not many liking you. A new autocrat probably always was a risk since the apparatus for such a leader still was in place. KGB was relative intact during all this years for example. And it happened gradually in a way that seems to be designed to take back the old style autocrat leader. Especially with the media and the social contract that the population of Russia was willing to take. A contract that will get worse for them all the time.
Really enjoying listening to this conversation, I've been considering a lot of the same questions but have not got enough experience of Russian culture on a personal level to be able to make any sensible thoughts possible. Which is very frustrating, but this is seriously informative stuff. Subscribed.
I've never seen a ruzzian that is not imperialist. Some are not that bad though. Maybe able to learn, but learning takes unfortunately years if that has been imprented from childhood?
~20 timestamp kissing the ring or hand, "thick relations" sounds a lot like the mafia. Perhaps it's only peopke adjusting to their harsh and tyrannical reality. 😢
I think you both are somewhat Pollyannish (is that a word?) when it comes to positive change in Russia. It won't happen as long as Russia remains in its current form (federation). Only when the federation breaks apart, people cease to identify themselves as a subject of an empire. And no, it's not in their genes. It's in their up-bringing. Even then, the change will take at least a few generations, more likely over 100 years. If we're not lucky, even breaking up of Russian federation won't change things. There are so many dystopian scenarios that become entirely possible when an empire falls apart. That's the future we need to prepare ourselves for.
I actually agree with you on this. Only bottom up democracy within a fragmented country has any hope of democratising ‘the territory formerly known as Russia’
Great to have Vlad on your channel again. Throughly enjoyed his take on the war and Russian society. Re thoughts on Russian polling. Among other issues, when watching the "man/woman on the street" Russian interviews on the web, it is obvious to see the extreme reluctance of the Russians to answer any sort of political questions. I don't think you can glean any coherent conclusions from Russian polling, especially in view of the current state of affairs. It's interesting to try to do so but very misleading, I expect.
Not even full battle tanks yet either. Ukraine has no navy so help with some NATO crewed ships would likely be the first step if NATO has to intervene fully.
I'm reminded of the English expression "kith and kin", which neatly sums up the limits of empathy in the old tribal level of human organisation: people you know (kith) and people you're related to (kin). Everyone else is a potential enemy or prey. When social cohesion collapses that seems to be what we fall back on.
Excellent episode. I was especially pleased to hear the discussion regarding the planning and vision for Russia's future. Aside from some of the general predictions around a possible breakup of the Russian Fed., I have seen next to nothing on any kind of plan or thought to how Russia might reform itself politically, should the opportunity arise. As you mentioned, there are plenty of historical examples of that kind of forethought taking place in anticipation of democratic change that helped direct the subsequent opportunities (e.g., 1980's Poland, Maidan, etc.). But I haven't heard any mention until this episode of any possible analog taking place amongst Russian opposition leaders. This seems like something that would be absolutely critical given the likely tenuousness of any democratic opportunity that might present itself. And I'm very pleased to hear that Vlad is not only thinking about this, but encouraging in his approach towards the feedback that he gives to these opposition leaders.
They (the opposition) seem more intent on defining what they are against, than presenting a coherent vision for the ‘evolutionary’ development of the Russian state. It seems a little childish. Also, I’ve not heard any of them express a coherent plan about how they would deal with the FSB / Siloviki. Whereas many of my Ukrainian guests explain how the dealt with, or are dealing with the legacy of soviet thinking and nepotism in their country. Russians perhaps don’t yet want to learn the ‘deep’ and complex lessons from evolving Ukrainian statehood…
Vlad -- right on as always, great points. About your health, you have not said any deails that I have heard, please send me a link so that I can possibly help you. It might by interesting for you to consider a 0 carb diet for a week as an experiment (based on the inflamation in your cheeks). Back to topic, please consider the term "civil society". Please consider that there is very little Ruzzian consciousness around civil society (a.k.a. orientation on "thin" relationships), and that is logical, it related to the deep pofigism of the majority, which relates to the deep history (1000 years) of systemic disenfrachisement (mongolia, princes, pomeshiki, zars, dictators), yes? We have the same thing in the USA for the subcutlure that is made of the decendents of the slaves, again, subject is systemic disenfrachisement, leading to "this is not my sidewalk", "this is not my government", "these are not my schools", take no responsibility for quality of shared resources, etc...
Very good conversation. Small correction: Being Austrian, I have to insist, that Karl Popper was an Austrian, who - at some point in time - also had the British citizenship ;-)
Nice video. Thank you. However, when thinking about Russia evolving into a true democracy, the words of the 20th centuries greatest philosopher, Forrest Gump, come to mind - "Stupid is as stupid does."
I have searched for your show as a podcast and can not find it. You should release your audio as a podcast. I think it would really help to grow your viewers. With the quality of your content, I really think you should have more subscribers. I only have a little bit of time per day that i can watch youtube video. If this was released as an audio only podcast I would listen to all instead of just 20 percent. The way my life is, I can listen to ten times as much podcasts as i can watch youtube videos.
A few weeks ago I saw posts, by two well-known Russian dissidents on Quora, both of which could be paraphrased ("cartoonishly", as Vlad likes to say) as "Russians will never have democracy; we're too fatalistic". It would be funny if it weren't so sad, no? From my (limited) understanding of Russian culture, it seems that this could be true in the short run, though I think we all hope it isn't true in the long run.
The only reason they won’t have democracy is because people don’t want to put the hard work in to query their own mythology and lies, to look at their history objectively… and also put their trust in ‘political mechanisms’ and processes - try to understand how other countries like Germany and Japan emerged from autocracy… it’s arrogance and laziness, self-delusion and exceptionalism that will prevent Russian democracy- it’s not that they are genetically or culturally incapable of evolving politically…
Concerning the "selective" solidarity at around 20 minutes. If believe some psychologists now have a theory that people have one of two kind of empathy. Some have "universal" empathy while others have empathy only toward those that they can somehow relate to (nationality, friends, family, political belief, race, etc. ).
This, thin versus thick morality is also an evolutionary phenomenon. Urbanization of human beings is a new evolutionary speaking. The very idea of Judaism is the articulation of the same thing. The rest of the world are gentiles. In England, it is called NIMBYS. In Italy, it is really family or sharing a specific location in the past. We all try to rationalize this evolutionary characteristic instinct for wishing to live within small communities when people know others by name. Indeed it is the biggest danger to civilization and overpopulation. Just about every malaise of society can be traced back to this, thick vs thin morality. Even the climate crisis is really the result of the same issue.
Authoritarians need people to have the mindset of obedient "subjects" instead of "citizens". "Subjects" accept that their rights are dispensed by the authority of unrestrained rulers, they accept this because of fear of harsh consequences imposed by the rulers. "Citizens" understand that rights are god-given and the ruler's authority to restrict rights needs to be restrained with consequences imposed by the people on the rulers.
You need to understand it they also accept it because it makes them feel comfortable. About one in four people need a strong leader or they feel constant anxiety. I suspect that one in four number is higher in Russia because of centuries of filtering. But to them, democracy and total freedom feels like chaos and it's a very threatening and frightening.
An excellent conversation! And yes, I absolutely agree that the notion that Russia is (or Russians are) incapable of democracy for “genetic” reasons is completely false. It is true that a lot needs to change in their culture and in the way their civic society operates, but they is no legitimate reason why they couldn’t be successfully democratic someday. Of course a lot needs to change and they need to put in the work, but they need to stop believing the lie that they are “different from the West, and that democracy will never work.” That mindset is the guarantor that it won’t work, so that needs to change first and foremost. As far as Russian opposition is concerned- I do believe it is the responsibility of the West to do what Ukraine can’t do right now and to champion oppositionary figures in Russia (physically or just in the information space). I think we need to help champion efforts to help set Russia on a democratic future to help them become the type of state that will not attack Ukraine (or other of its neighbors) in the future. And I think we need to start now. My hope is that these types of movements will have a place as instabilities manifest themselves in the current regime, and that political change could begin to happen then. Of course I don’t expect these things to come easily, and it’s very uncertain when and how they might happen. But the point is that the West should champion any Russian oppositionary efforts and to have an eye on a democratic future for Russia, to help them get there.
It's not enough to say that Ukraine is fighting a just war. What can we do to encourage Russia to evolve into a less dangerous and more properous democratic society. Not enough to support Ukraine. Assuming they are successful, how does the world avoid the past failures to embrace Russia to develop into a non-authoritarian state.
any assertions of 'manifest destiny' contingent on thwarting aspirations towards mutually affording agentic development is misguided at best, possibly nothing more than unbridled malevolence.
Karl Popper was austrian-british, most famous as a member of the Vienna Circle. He left Austria in 1937. He left for NZ due to the deteriorating political situation in Austria, did not return after the war and the return of democracy to Austria and stayed in the UK, like many other austrian scientists. (for example: Paul Felix Lazersfeld, Erwin Schrödinger, etc.; not part of this exodus is Friedrich August von Hayek).
Another prominent member of the Vienna Circle who fled was Rudolf Carnap, who came to the United States in 1935. He wasn't Jewish, but his politics were far too liberal for him to remain in Vienna. He spent the rest of his life in the U.S.
I believe that the media is to a certain extent making people unaware of how to be kind and considerate of each other. What about showing more stories of decent ordinary human beings instead of promoting celebrity and scandal.
So, it boils down to the fact that it will be a constant lottery as to which leaders will come to power in all the countries of the world. As long as there is no kind of filter in the form of personality tests(big 5) and employment contracts when shouldering the enormous responsibility that awaits a leader of a country.
Brilliant discussion. I'm not optimistic, sadly. Interesting to hear views of Navalny's vision, or lack of. The hard questions are always difficult to answer
Even russian mothers are not willing to rise up against the useless sacrifice of their husbands and sons in this war. But are more interested in protesting that they have not recieved the monetary compensation for their deaths.
Over an hour with Vlad is indeed a real treat.
I agree with Vlad, it makes sense to view this Russo-Ukrainian war as a colonial relationship and, in my view, a fight for freedom from the colonial oppressor.
It's imperative that Russia does not prevail. All of Europe will have a huge problem if we let Ukraine down.
@@carolwilliams8511 100% behind you on this one.
Guys in political science are often involved in autoerotism.
It doesn't matter how you interpret the meaning of the war.
The only thing that matters is the kinetic aspect of it, ie..people are dying.
Whether it was for colonialism, Putin woke up on the wrong side of the bed or something else, it doesn't matter.
And these morons, the russian population will suffer for the next 20 years.
They are responsible for this as much as Putin.
I think it's a bit different than that. Russians seem to be convinced they have subjugated Ukrainians to the point that they are their own, only less civilised. Like rural cousins, to whom Russians brought civilisation and 'helped them' build cities, industry etc. That's why Russians feel so much hatred towards Ukraine - they treat them as 'traitors'. It's not just a conquered nation, it's a nation that is supposed to be 'grateful' for centuries of subjugation and exploitation.
@@YsCosmia absolutely. British colonialist views fed Brexit, for example. Britain is learning that without an Empire it weakened the country (an Empire gives you captive markets you can force to take your goods and you can force them to have customs terms that favour the coloniser over other countries). Russia hates that Ukraine wants to make deals in Ukraine's interest rather than ones that are in Russia's interest.
This is a sick channel man, really knows the heart beat of good analysis
peculiar word to use i dont like it its meaning is ....disgusting... thare is only one word to use for that stop it why is that americans use peculiar sayings that are horseshit
Its not the full might of western armour. most of what Ukraine has been given is a good 30 years old. At the start of the war the Russian military was thought to be the second most powerful in the world, now it is the second most powerful in Ukraine.
The Abrams is 40 years old. Most western MBTs are at least 2 decade old. The design date of a system mean very little (if anything that’s a good thing, it means they have proven themselves against a constant barrage of attempted « innovation »)
Courtesy may be the keystone of sustainable statecraft, if one might care to dedicate a centrally dependable structural resource.
Democracy might be seen as the best problem-solving mechanism for the relationship between the state and the individual. Common consensus can thereby respond within a political framework to the benefit of the largest number. Voter apathy is the greatest deterent to Democracy.
🤝
"Today I have mostly been in discussion with Vlad Vexler."
If we do have a stalemate IT IS like A new Cold War 1946 West Germany vs East Germany..... But Russian economy is only the same size is Italian economy so it won't survive
The Russians has to fit in a fossilfree economy. Wood industry? Adventure Tourism, Art, Art work, Hunting, Sport, Winter sport, Agriculture culture, IT, Matematics. Indo european arciology and tourism. Pay for Russian youth meeting children in neighbouring countries.
"Pulling the lever to remove an unpopular leader and it does not work." Are you talking about the USA?
The words I'm waiting for all Russians to hear... "You guys are going to be involved in this now, all of you". The Russian famous last words; I'm apolitical, I'm not political, I don't know politics, I'm not interested in politics. My question to them is; are you Renters or Owners of your country? Because most of you are acting like Renters who aren't concerned with the way your country looks or how it's built or if it will last long term. Instead of trying to take your neighbor's house, how about fixing up your own?? If you never walk outside your home & take a good look at it from a distance you'll never really see it properly. Not many want to be involved in politics, but it's everyone's responsibility. I know what Vlad would say to this... they're not citizens, they are a population. It's not enough anymore. 😏 And we should start with Truth matters! 🤍
Planes fall out of the sky; I think Mr. Putin will take a submarine to Argentina. 🌞. (Vlad's right, Mr Putin may be removed to one of his Dachas or Villas, which hopefully takes away his fear of leaving power because of his Gaddafi demise phobia, so maybe he will let go of the reigns more peacefully.)
And so the WW2 russian meat grinder orc machine finally revs up its engines...this is like winning against Germany again except Ukraine is not it the same league as Germany in WW2 and the American forces are only shouting insults from the sidelines as they look on waving furiously and singing songs about freedom and democracy.
Russia is done. What more can I add?
"...silicon curtain atacked with invented dronies to soviet union ukraine in ²⁴ ² ²⁰²²
Thank for the channel. Vlad is pure gold and we are very lucky to have him. He brings readings and ideas that most of us haven't seen. He also offers frames of language to help us find our own focusses and perspectives. Great questions and excellent commentary by the host also. Kisses all round. In the end we all need a functional, sane, and beautiful Russia. Together we must demolish the errors of the past and find the secrets of a viable future.
Vexler is a good analyst but he's very wrong here about putin's international crimes being trumped by his callous attitude towards the russian people.
Russians being sent to die by the animal they have put in charge is completely irrelevant when set beside the crimes Russia is and has committed towards neighbouring/foreign populations. Russians are responsible for whatever happens too them for allowing putin and his gang to maintain power.
Ukrainians are completely innocent.
And actually "in the end" we need Russia as a failed state, which has no ability to mount full scale attacks on it's neighbours. In a similar vein to the defanging of Iraq and Libya.
@@toi_techno if you watch the video on Vlad's channel he does say the Russian people are responsible. However reconciliation requires forgiveness. USA failed in integrating the Taliban (they had the chance). USA pushed Britain to accept IRA senior people into government (and it worked). Ultimately ideology softens when you have to work together and hardens when you can only fight.
Agreed -- although it's almost unbearable at less than a 1.25 times speed-up.
@@Kotch111 And forgiveness, importantly requires CESSATION of aggression, cessation of violence, cessation of psychosocial attack- by the latter of course, I mean induction of information chaos (mixed use of real facts with specious interpretations and falsehoods).
As we know, armistice retains former combatants in opposition, merely without active, attributable violence. Armistice does NOT include active forgiveness.
Empathy has been for centuries now defined as "putting oneself in another's conceptual and emotional position."
Empathy is certainly the sine qua non of forgiveness. Therapies and forgiveness are based upon effortful empathy.
To claim that the "USA" failed in integrating Taliban, denies agency in individuals, and is an extreme cognitive error.
Diplomats engage in international non-war, nonviolent discourse. When a diplomat expresses enmity, it is the individual who faile.
Individuals engage in propaganda , whether as agents of media corporate policies, which originate in individuals.
Rupert Murdoch engaged in creating a disinformation network of false news, perhaps due to the profit increase he discovered from fostering enraged dispute in his Australian businesses. He was granted some H1_B visa or other visa by the US Reagan administration because he invested /bought US media, and/or due to hiring some qualifying number (was it 10,000.? I have never needed an immigration visa, being a citizen, so have not checked the requirements).
Interestingly, his ethos was regarded as useful against Soviet Union by USA and its republican party of the time. That party nearly completely turned its policies around by 2016 when it backed Russian Puppet ("useful idiot") Trump, who to this day is anti-ukraine due to his long-term entanglement as Russian Money "launderer."
So, does forgiveness ENTAIL restorative justice? I had elder relatives who to their deaths THIS century never forgave Japan, and therefore its industries and sales in the USA by Japanese who were NOT yet born during hostilities.
The clamor for "reparations" for "ancestors" over 160 years ago, is evidence of failure of people to forgive, From this we can conclude that "justice" as perceived by individuals having NO living connection to others, is REFUSAL to forgive. THe entire "white/colored thing is refusal to forgive for nonexistent crimes and wrongs.
Police beating a man to death, is neither justice nor forgiveness.
This raises the question, can forgiveness exist for those who suffered another's wrongdoing, when continuing intent to persist in wrongdoing occurs in those one is asked (for utilitarian or other reasons) to forgive when such a violation is held as acceptable not merely yesterday, but also tomorrow?.
Many channels like Vlad are nice and educational but still gaming you if you don’t discern his information, these channels that sprung out of the blue are described as limited hangout/controlled opposition outfits/“best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves” - Lenin For example he didn’t point out that the climate scam is a Russian hybrid war on the West why Greta never goes after China or Russia. He never told you about Anatoliy Golitsyn or how Soviet special services are behind BLM and 🏳️🌈. I can give details if someone cares
There are interesting differences between the parts of Germany, that lived under the thumb of the Soviets and those who didn't. Especially regarding the attitude towards the institutions of the state.
Recently I learned that the word "solidarity" (thin relationship) has a negative meaning for the people there (even today), as solidarity was what the state asked them to show, every time the state could not provide the things they needed (empty shelves).
And after over 30 years of RECEIVED Solidarität they still do not understand the real meaning of the word....🤬
@@p.h.3987 Yes, all of this is so strange. I can't wrap my head around it.
Where did you got that information? I actually doubt that is true the way you describe it. Maybe in regard to request of "solidarity" from the government. They probably to some extend assume that the call of "solidarity" really means exploitation. Which is true for the first call of "solidarity" (ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer), to some extend for the second call of "solidarity" (in the GDR) and they probably assume the same for the calls of "solidarity" now. But I think even that it a stretch. It´s more about general distrust of the government. Interpersonal solidarity was quite important in the GDR. It makes no sense that it has a general negative meaning.
@@ChristophSiegel I couldn't add anything to what Lola said. Does it make sense to you?
@@JuliaMRichter Yes, thank you both. I thought about it again and I think I can expand my argument from "solidarity" demanded from the government to solidarity in regards to the whole political sphere. Which is overwhelming majority of cases when the word "solidarity" is used. You dont say "I gave my neighbor my lawn mower out of solidarity", thats true. But I still have trouble with the statement that the word "solidarity" in general has a negative meaning. In an unpolitical sense, I think its fine. Example: If a football club has financial problems and another football club helps with a charity match, its regulary called solidarity and has no negative connotation.
Full discloser: I was born in the GDR (too you to really grow up there). You both gave some insights I will think about. Very interesting. Thanks!
I still dont fully agree with the generalisation of the statement, but I cant dispute your experience.
Thank you so much for brining Vlad over again. I'm struggling to recall whether it was your channel that helped me discover Vlad, or the other way round, but whatever it is, it was a great day when I did.
Here's wishing this channel reaches 100K subs not before long.
Thank! Hopefully that 100k will come quickly now!
Vlad is my go to source for trying to understand what the f@£* is going on with Russia during these times. Great Video!
10K!!!
Azerbaijani Shirvan Neftchi of the Caspian Report recently put it this way: Russia is experiencing post-empire phantom pains.
I would like the characterisation of Dugin as Putin's colon on a t-shirt, please.
55:42, btw
I’ll contact NAFO - see if they can mock something up!
Hell yeah. Great idea!!
Comment for the algorithm
Vlad is incredibly interesting. This interview is really worth listening to more than one time.
I am a fan. I have listened to Vexler since the war started. He is part of my self imposed reading and watching. I feel like I am in a graduate seminar
This channel is very interesting and deserves many more subscribers.
I didn't know i was waiting for this, but i was.
A late Christmas present 🎁
Love listening to Vlad, looks like the numbers subscribing are going up, good to see Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 heroyam Slava 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
This channel has so many important voices contributing their expertise; I am currently trying to catch up on the episodes. Hearing from some contributors again shows how time has affected facts on the ground without altering the necessity of continuing support for Ukraine. 🇺🇦
Whenever I watch Vlad I feel like I’m in a back room in a Moscow saloon discussing politics with a Russian philosopher… the only thing missing is the beer and a chess board. Putin is a tsar and Rasputin in one body.
In the uk we call them "torys".
you mean vodka xd
@@DJWESG1 #lol
Rasputin had many flaws, but he was a pacifist, we can't say the same of Putin.
Yep totally
Will they still somehow avoid taking sons from upper middle class in the big cities? We see them interviewing these young people and they say that they aren’t following the war in Ukraine. The smart ones ran for the border but the rest must feel safe.
Just couldn't sleep until I finished this one. Awesome interview, despite the sad subject matter. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
Whenever anyone claims that there are cultures that are essentially democratic or anti-democratic I point to Korea. Both regimes are clearly Korean, different from other cultures, but one is a thriving democracy and one is North Korea, practically our definition of totalitarian regime.
Just discoverd your channel recently, already followed Vlad. Perfect podcast! Keep on going!
Another insightful conversation with Vlad, Jonathon! Thank you many times over for your channel.. Cheers 💖!
Always thankful for how you direct your interviews. Vlad is exceptional! Cheers!
A democracy nurtures the idea of everybody pulling together. In a dictatorship, all people truly have is family and friends, so it's unsurprising that there is a problem with 'thin relationships'.
Democracy is not a new idea, in almost all cases democracies have imploded into two or more faction that hate each other.
Look at the USA, do you see the Democrats & Republicans working together for the common good?
Democracy has a problem with clans and large groups of people.
Things to keep in mind is that democracy is basically a bloodless form of War. If you forget that it will return to the blooddy form of War.
I`m from Slovakia, born in Czechoclovakia in 1989, so I haven`t experience communism/tottalitarianism firsthand, but my parents had a lot so say about it. One thing being that making everything "communal" had the exact opposite effect. Before , when you had your house, your garden, your stuff, you would take care of it as a matter of pride. But when it`s no longer yours, why should you care? Like why should I sweep the sidewalk in front of my house if it`s not mine. When you extend this to people, why should I care other other people when they`re not "mine".
Also communism fostered deep mistrust in people, because you couldn`t trust your next door neighbour to not call the secret police on you. And when the state didn`t have any proof against you, they would just make life difficult for you in subtle ways, like sabotaging your work.
This kind of mindset is still there even 33 years after the fall of the regime. And Czechoslovakia was on the Western most side of the Eastern block. I can`t imagine how bad it`s all the way in Russia.
It's the other way around - people pulling together produces democracy and the destruction of social webs makes authoritarian regimes possible.
@@LddStyx Bingo. Civilisation thrives when men plant trees they will never feel the shade of.
When those men die out and their grand children inherit the democracy, it collapses into competing groups each trying to grab as much unearned wealth and privilege for themselves.
You owe me reparations, because reasons...
Excellent input from you both -thank you!
I have learnt so much from Vlad and he is excellent in the way he comes across explaining certain topics and agendas. I little glimmer of light during these dark moments in war.
I love listening to Vlad! I wish I knew that much about one category!
My Ukrainian Mom said the most dangerous Russian is one who is crying.
Mr Vexler is a great guy. Thanks for having him on!
26:36 by looking at an extraordinarily failed political situation like the one in Russia. From my observations you could say the same about the UK right now.... Now the UK is not a dictator state but the way the people in power lie continuously and the apparent complete indifference they seem to have towards those without power and money, not unlike Putin, has been frightening...
This is a wonderful chat between 2 great communicators and 2 of my essential sources of information regarding the war and Russia. Thank you both !!
Love that Vexler is back for a third time. His podcast with Rehi is also great. Hope to see him in future videos on this and other channels in the future.
Thanks for the interview, always great to listen to Vlad. Thanks for the link I have ordered a mug - keep these great interviews coming !
Putting the finger exactly on the spot! Thanks for bringing Vlad back for the 3rd time. He puts every aspect in perfect perspective.
Good luck with the channel.
The first and moast important step to democraty is education. First you have the capability to under stand the Status Quo second you are not so afraid about the steps to democraty that had to be taken because you know what to do. The current Russians state of mind is like the same that germans had bevor and in the 2. World War. There was indoctrinatiom, Disbelieve in the current sittuation. In Ww2 a lot of people were aware that sth. like Holokhorst was ging on but looked actively looked away. The same thing is going on in russia today. In hinsicht we could be glad that Germany was a defeted militarily and that as the consequenc people were confronted whith the through. An a change of might had accured because of that. Evan when defeated on the Battlefield there realisicly will be no occupation of Russia. And in the consequenc the change of mind like what had accured afer Ww2 in Germany through denacification will be Problematik. Therfore i am afraid the path, demand and desire for democracy will be a long one. Old minds often will not change but die. And younger minds are up to now indoctrinated the wrong way. I hope there will be change and Russians will have a Future. To this point in time I just can't see the way to that. As a German i can say there is always hope and it can be done. But the way is hard you have to take resonsabillity, have to be aware of your gilt and you have to constandly worke against extremist in the inside.
Brilliant, intelligent and Vlad I'm in awe of your wonderful command and use of English as it's not your native tongue.
Russians have this concept of the rhodina, yet they seem so dissatisfied and grouchy. Do you think the geographic positioning and environmental have any bearing on this?
I.e the cold, distance, positioning of ports or being on the fringe of Europe but really belonging. Thanks for your efforts.
Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦
"Tyranny in search of an idea"......there it is.
I heard from some Russians that US has a lot of people meaning also that Russia is kind of small in comparison. And Putin knows that he had a huge decline in birthrate during the 90s and have problems with the amount of people in his nation. USSR also of course lost a lot of people in the break up of big nations like Ukraine and Kazakstan. At that time USSr before the breakup to Russia was bigger in population size than US. Ukraine for exemple is between 20 to 30 percent of Russias population. So I think in that sense Putin was acting on a wish to have more people in his nation. His prime motive of course is his fear of democracy movements even though he believes them to be controlled by US and loosing his own power. Al
Why does the Russian Federation (~140 million) have the rights of the entire USSR (~290 million)?
@@anzelmasmatutis2500 No of course not. But USSR was also controlled by Kreml and Putin is a product of USSR. So he compare Russia with USSR (not regarding communism but in might and as a superpower and people is one of those factor of being an empire). He has done those comparison many times. Why would otherwise Gorbatjov a leader that did many positive things for the russians be seen as such a bad leader in present time Russia. It is only because he is seen as a leader that weakened the empire.
@@hurmur9528 Which just shows the short sightedness of the Russian populace concerning their political system.
Gorby gave them freedom from a collapsing state (it was going to collapse before he was in power anyway), and they spat in his face.
@@nonegone7170 Yes it is a sad state of affair. All this shit could have bin avoided many times. But I guess in a way he becomes his own demise because even though he was a good leader he was not a democratic leader but a democratic autocrat. And I guess this dual role could lead to not many liking you.
A new autocrat probably always was a risk since the apparatus for such a leader still was in place. KGB was relative intact during all this years for example. And it happened gradually in a way that seems to be designed to take back the old style autocrat leader. Especially with the media and the social contract that the population of Russia was willing to take. A contract that will get worse for them all the time.
As always, thought-provoking, informative and engaging. Thanks!
Thank you both for great , intresting conversation ❤ all the best from Finland
That was a seriously good vid, many thanks to you both for it. 🙂👍
Wow! Very pleased that this happened!
What a treat, I’ve been waiting for this! 💙💛🇬🇧
Really enjoying listening to this conversation, I've been considering a lot of the same questions but have not got enough experience of Russian culture on a personal level to be able to make any sensible thoughts possible. Which is very frustrating, but this is seriously informative stuff. Subscribed.
I've never seen a ruzzian that is not imperialist. Some are not that bad though. Maybe able to learn, but learning takes unfortunately years if that has been imprented from childhood?
This channel is a solid 11/10 well done
~20 timestamp kissing the ring or hand, "thick relations" sounds a lot like the mafia. Perhaps it's only peopke adjusting to their harsh and tyrannical reality. 😢
I think you both are somewhat Pollyannish (is that a word?) when it comes to positive change in Russia. It won't happen as long as Russia remains in its current form (federation). Only when the federation breaks apart, people cease to identify themselves as a subject of an empire. And no, it's not in their genes. It's in their up-bringing. Even then, the change will take at least a few generations, more likely over 100 years. If we're not lucky, even breaking up of Russian federation won't change things. There are so many dystopian scenarios that become entirely possible when an empire falls apart. That's the future we need to prepare ourselves for.
I actually agree with you on this. Only bottom up democracy within a fragmented country has any hope of democratising ‘the territory formerly known as Russia’
It was a pleasure to listen to you both. Thanks for challenging my thought processes:)
LOL, I was watching yewtoob without my glasses, and I thought the title said "Tranny in Search of an Idea." That piqued my curiosity:)
Great to have Vlad on your channel again. Throughly enjoyed his take on the war and Russian society.
Re thoughts on Russian polling. Among other issues, when watching the "man/woman on the street" Russian interviews on the web, it is obvious to see the extreme reluctance of the Russians to answer any sort of political questions. I don't think you can glean any coherent conclusions from Russian polling, especially in view of the current state of affairs. It's interesting to try to do so but very misleading, I expect.
Wonderful interview! Thanks
not "the full might of western technology" The west has not fully comitted air power
Indeed, if the West had fully committed with their airforce and artillery, there would be no russian army anymore, but a lot of young corpses.
Not even full battle tanks yet either. Ukraine has no navy so help with some NATO crewed ships would likely be the first step if NATO has to intervene fully.
If he looses Crimea he will end up on his sofa with a Makarov, reality will be hard for him.
Brilliant guest
I'm reminded of the English expression "kith and kin", which neatly sums up the limits of empathy in the old tribal level of human organisation: people you know (kith) and people you're related to (kin). Everyone else is a potential enemy or prey. When social cohesion collapses that seems to be what we fall back on.
Excellent episode. I was especially pleased to hear the discussion regarding the planning and vision for Russia's future. Aside from some of the general predictions around a possible breakup of the Russian Fed., I have seen next to nothing on any kind of plan or thought to how Russia might reform itself politically, should the opportunity arise. As you mentioned, there are plenty of historical examples of that kind of forethought taking place in anticipation of democratic change that helped direct the subsequent opportunities (e.g., 1980's Poland, Maidan, etc.). But I haven't heard any mention until this episode of any possible analog taking place amongst Russian opposition leaders. This seems like something that would be absolutely critical given the likely tenuousness of any democratic opportunity that might present itself. And I'm very pleased to hear that Vlad is not only thinking about this, but encouraging in his approach towards the feedback that he gives to these opposition leaders.
They (the opposition) seem more intent on defining what they are against, than presenting a coherent vision for the ‘evolutionary’ development of the Russian state. It seems a little childish. Also, I’ve not heard any of them express a coherent plan about how they would deal with the FSB / Siloviki. Whereas many of my Ukrainian guests explain how the dealt with, or are dealing with the legacy of soviet thinking and nepotism in their country. Russians perhaps don’t yet want to learn the ‘deep’ and complex lessons from evolving Ukrainian statehood…
Vlad -- right on as always, great points. About your health, you have not said any deails that I have heard, please send me a link so that I can possibly help you. It might by interesting for you to consider a 0 carb diet for a week as an experiment (based on the inflamation in your cheeks). Back to topic, please consider the term "civil society". Please consider that there is very little Ruzzian consciousness around civil society (a.k.a. orientation on "thin" relationships), and that is logical, it related to the deep pofigism of the majority, which relates to the deep history (1000 years) of systemic disenfrachisement (mongolia, princes, pomeshiki, zars, dictators), yes? We have the same thing in the USA for the subcutlure that is made of the decendents of the slaves, again, subject is systemic disenfrachisement, leading to "this is not my sidewalk", "this is not my government", "these are not my schools", take no responsibility for quality of shared resources, etc...
Very good conversation. Small correction: Being Austrian, I have to insist, that Karl Popper was an Austrian, who - at some point in time - also had the British citizenship ;-)
That is more accurate, yes.
Hey Mr. Vlad!
Hey!
How did I miss that you made this video?? I watch both of your channels.
There are 3 Vlad interviews I think, already!
Vlad Vexler provides the most nuanced and humane analysis of the war in Ukraine. He always has interesting and thought-provoking things to say.
👍 totally agree!
Nice video. Thank you. However, when thinking about Russia evolving into a true democracy, the words of the 20th centuries greatest philosopher, Forrest Gump, come to mind - "Stupid is as stupid does."
Vlad is so well versed in Russian culture. Not that I'm a good judge of that necessarily but damn Vlad is great
Well he is Russian
YOU DONT SAY
I have searched for your show as a podcast and can not find it. You should release your audio as a podcast.
I think it would really help to grow your viewers. With the quality of your content, I really think you should have more subscribers. I only have a little bit of time per day that i can watch youtube video. If this was released as an audio only podcast I would listen to all instead of just 20 percent. The way my life is, I can listen to ten times as much podcasts as i can watch youtube videos.
It is a podcast now - it’s on 10 of the most common platforms and most of the episodes are now uploaded- including this one.
@@SiliconCurtain Great! I will listen to all.
A few weeks ago I saw posts, by two well-known Russian dissidents on Quora, both of which could be paraphrased ("cartoonishly", as Vlad likes to say) as "Russians will never have democracy; we're too fatalistic". It would be funny if it weren't so sad, no? From my (limited) understanding of Russian culture, it seems that this could be true in the short run, though I think we all hope it isn't true in the long run.
The only reason they won’t have democracy is because people don’t want to put the hard work in to query their own mythology and lies, to look at their history objectively… and also put their trust in ‘political mechanisms’ and processes - try to understand how other countries like Germany and Japan emerged from autocracy… it’s arrogance and laziness, self-delusion and exceptionalism that will prevent Russian democracy- it’s not that they are genetically or culturally incapable of evolving politically…
@@SiliconCurtain This is EXACTLY what I think! 🤍 I basically said the same in my own comment.
Concerning the "selective" solidarity at around 20 minutes. If believe some psychologists now have a theory that people have one of two kind of empathy. Some have "universal" empathy while others have empathy only toward those that they can somehow relate to (nationality, friends, family, political belief, race, etc. ).
39:37 “There’s very little thinking in the West about what kind of Russia that should emerge from this…”
- Jonathan Fink
How many more ‘leaders’ are going to have an unfortunate accident……and who will be the last ?
This, thin versus thick morality is also an evolutionary phenomenon. Urbanization of human beings is a new evolutionary speaking.
The very idea of Judaism is the articulation of the same thing. The rest of the world are gentiles.
In England, it is called NIMBYS. In Italy, it is really family or sharing a specific location in the past.
We all try to rationalize this evolutionary characteristic instinct for wishing to live within small communities when people know others by name.
Indeed it is the biggest danger to civilization and overpopulation. Just about every malaise of society can be traced back to this, thick vs thin morality. Even the climate crisis is really the result of the same issue.
Such an important point - part of ensuring this War never happens again is not just reinforcing Ukraine it’s shaping Russia !
Authoritarians need people to have the mindset of obedient "subjects" instead of "citizens". "Subjects" accept that their rights are dispensed by the authority of unrestrained rulers, they accept this because of fear of harsh consequences imposed by the rulers. "Citizens" understand that rights are god-given and the ruler's authority to restrict rights needs to be restrained with consequences imposed by the people on the rulers.
Maybe replace 'god given' with 'hard fought for'
You need to understand it they also accept it because it makes them feel comfortable. About one in four people need a strong leader or they feel constant anxiety.
I suspect that one in four number is higher in Russia because of centuries of filtering. But to them, democracy and total freedom feels like chaos and it's a very threatening and frightening.
God-given they're not.
An excellent conversation! And yes, I absolutely agree that the notion that Russia is (or Russians are) incapable of democracy for “genetic” reasons is completely false. It is true that a lot needs to change in their culture and in the way their civic society operates, but they is no legitimate reason why they couldn’t be successfully democratic someday. Of course a lot needs to change and they need to put in the work, but they need to stop believing the lie that they are “different from the West, and that democracy will never work.” That mindset is the guarantor that it won’t work, so that needs to change first and foremost.
As far as Russian opposition is concerned- I do believe it is the responsibility of the West to do what Ukraine can’t do right now and to champion oppositionary figures in Russia (physically or just in the information space). I think we need to help champion efforts to help set Russia on a democratic future to help them become the type of state that will not attack Ukraine (or other of its neighbors) in the future. And I think we need to start now. My hope is that these types of movements will have a place as instabilities manifest themselves in the current regime, and that political change could begin to happen then. Of course I don’t expect these things to come easily, and it’s very uncertain when and how they might happen. But the point is that the West should champion any Russian oppositionary efforts and to have an eye on a democratic future for Russia, to help them get there.
Thank you for a very interesting discussion, very much food for a thaught.
Great conversation. Thanks. Glad I subscribed.
It's not enough to say that Ukraine is fighting a just war. What can we do to encourage Russia to evolve into a less dangerous and more properous democratic society. Not enough to support Ukraine. Assuming they are successful, how does the world avoid the past failures to embrace Russia to develop into a non-authoritarian state.
any assertions of 'manifest destiny' contingent on thwarting aspirations towards mutually affording agentic development is misguided at best, possibly nothing more than unbridled malevolence.
For the record, "The product of Putine's colon" is not a burger...jt
Immediate like for the guest and the headline. 🙂
Same.
Vlads is my go to channel for an understanding of the Russian mind. He's also got a great speaking voice to fall asleep to.
Karl Popper was austrian-british, most famous as a member of the Vienna Circle. He left Austria in 1937. He left for NZ due to the deteriorating political situation in Austria, did not return after the war and the return of democracy to Austria and stayed in the UK, like many other austrian scientists. (for example: Paul Felix Lazersfeld, Erwin Schrödinger, etc.; not part of this exodus is Friedrich August von Hayek).
This is fascinating detail. My own grandparents fled Vienna, so it’s especially interesting.
Another prominent member of the Vienna Circle who fled was Rudolf Carnap, who came to the United States in 1935. He wasn't Jewish, but his politics were far too liberal for him to remain in Vienna. He spent the rest of his life in the U.S.
I believe that the media is to a certain extent making people unaware of how to be kind and considerate of each other. What about showing more stories of decent ordinary human beings instead of promoting celebrity and scandal.
Why are we surprised after Chechnia ,Georgia, Syria etc ?
So, it boils down to the fact that it will be a constant lottery as to which leaders will come to power in all the countries of the world. As long as there is no kind of filter in the form of personality tests(big 5) and employment contracts when shouldering the enormous responsibility that awaits a leader of a country.
So glad I found intelligent thought about Russia found here.
Grand Duchy of Moscow problem solve
Brilliant discussion. I'm not optimistic, sadly. Interesting to hear views of Navalny's vision, or lack of. The hard questions are always difficult to answer
Even russian mothers are not willing to rise up against the useless sacrifice of their husbands and sons in this war. But are more interested in protesting that they have not recieved the monetary compensation for their deaths.