Restoration of the Russian Empire
Manifest Destiny.
Russia is re-imagining itself. Think Big.
Vladimir Putin announced a new Russian holiday, the "Day of Reunification." It marks the re-integration of eastern Ukrainian districts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia into Russia.
Russia has a tradition of being led by tyrants. These leaders were not celebrated for their compassion and humanity, but for their strength and ruthlessness. Ivan the Terrible. Peter the Great. Catherine the Great. Joseph Stalin. Now Vladimir Putin.
Even in this era of Trump, Americans have a different expectation of leaders than do Russians. Power is divided. We still give lip service to rule of law, and a majority of Americans believe Trump is pushing boundaries. Trump getting away with shooting someone on Fifth Avenue is still understood as a troubling, ominous joke. Russians have a different sense of history and practice. Putin is part of a long history of willful, ruthless leadership on behalf of retaining power and achieving national greatness. In Russia troublemakers fall out of windows. Or get poisoned. Or their airplane gets shot down.
Tony Farrell, a college classmate who spent his career as a brand manager and marketer of products on TV, made a point that is useful for Americans trying to understand Putin and Russian aspirations in Europe. When making a TV pitch, the marketing rule is to "Make no small promises." The product isn't merely good; it is stupendous. It is miraculous in how it stops leaks, cleans bathroom tile, restores memory, or offers the best, most delicious steaks ever sold.
Americans hoping for a compromise settlement in a peace plan with Ukraine may get their wish, temporarily. There may be a cease fire. But there are ominous signs that this will settle nothing. Putin is not thinking small, simply trying to bring concentrations of native speakers of Russian into Russia. Putin referred to the breakup of the USSR as a great tragedy for Russia and mankind. Propagandists on Russian TV are now putting out new messages about Russia's intentions. The "no small promise" of Russia is restored greatness of Imperial Russia of 300 years ago. It goes beyond the territory of the USSR. That Imperial Russia includes the modern day countries of Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Poland and Georgia. Four of those countries are now part of NATO.
Russia is dealing with some of the same dysfunctions that Americans see in rising suicide rates, low birthrates, alcoholism, drug use, declining life expectancy, and "deaths of despair." Russian state TV propagandist Sergey Mardan said, "Pointless existence is the worst existential horror. There are some nations whose existence is pointless. They have no purpose, they've lost it." But there is a new and growing national purpose for Russia, he said. Russia can be great again. "You finally realize what this [new holiday] is all about is the restoration of a Russian nation, the restoration of the Russian Empire!"
This is not just some loudmouth crackpot. State TV is the voice of Russian leadership, putting a new idea out there. Not just great. Even greater.
In the 80 years since WWII, Americans have seen war as bad-but-necessary, and that sense of necessity has kept us at near-constant war somewhere. A different attitude toward conquest has been part of the human condition since the beginning of time. We search for glory. Humans respond to calls for it. Great leaders retain and grow power by stoking it. Hearts swell with pride at having a sense of purpose. Americans chanting "USA! USA!" at international sporting events are probably a harmless sublimation of that spirit. Americans carrying "Make America Great Again" flags inside the Capitol on January 6 is not harmless. Russia leaders are frustrated. The Russian economy is struggling. People are emigrating. A supposedly-easy war turned hard and grinding. Compromise may be more dangerous for Putin than would be an attempt at conquest. People want to believe they are part of a something great.
Make no small promise.
I "liked" this blog, but it is accurately dismal and depressing with a promise of violence. Kinda like Moscow without mind-numbing doses of vodka.
There has been a very effective and relentless campaign of propaganda against Russia ever since they wouldn't roll over and become the world's 'gas station'. Who orchestrates such global mischief? The CIA? State Department? The Pentagon? White House Neo Cons and Neo Libs? All of the above?From my overview of global happenings over the past 50 years I'd have to declare our good ol'USA the source of foreign meddling and imperialistic conquest, sine qua non. It pains me to admit it.
I have followed the Russian news and Putin's speeches the past few years. He can speak eloquently, and for hours, on geopolitical issues. Saving Russia and Russians is certainly his priority. Conquering others? I think not. Not being conquered? Absolutely. He seems to enjoy the type of domestic support (80%+) that our presidents can only dream about. I have one Facebook friend in Russia. In a country of 150 million I don't know what sample size in required to say what Russians think about Putin. But, I do read their news. I'd say he holds a place similar to George Washington. Revered. The savior of post-soviet Russia. Whatever you chose to call it, he is committed to demilitarize, de Nazify Ukraine and keeping that Russian majority territory now under his control. Russia is on a war footing. The USA and NATO are not. Additionally, since it's been shown that the West is not trustworthy, Putin's nukes are on high readiness. He won't be fooled by a pre-emptive strike. Game over.