What Putin wants

[Wilson23]

What Putin wants is to make Russia a world power of the first rank once again. Like it was when the emperors ruled. Like it was when the Communists ruled. The whole world has a common interest in making sure THAT never happens! The Russian nation is not worthy of that role and never was! I hate American exceptionalism, but I will defend the position that America is worthy to be a world power and Russia is not!

 

[Wilson23]

In the 19th Century, there was a political division in Russia -- at least among the literate elite who could meaningfully form political opinions -- between "Westernizers" and "Slavophiles." The Westernizers wanted emancipation of serfs, rule of law., parliamentary democracy, general modernization, etc., like the rest of Western civilization had. The Slavophiles said, "Waitaminnit, we're not PART of Western civilization! Russia is its own civilization, and our civilization is based on absolute monarchy, feudal aristocracy, and Eastern Orthodox Christianity!"

Monarchy and aristocracy are long gone from Russia now, the Orthodox Church is not the cultural hegemon it once was -- nevertheless, I am not entirely convinced this extremely misguided and wrong-headed form of national exceptionalism has entirely faded away. Putin probably believes in some updated form of it.

 

[briancamdudetenger2018]

what rasputin wants is to bring back the soviet union

 

[Wilson23]

what rasputin wants is to bring back the soviet union

I'm sure he's not really a Commie despite his background in the KGB. What he wants is to bring back the Russian Empire, IN SOME FORM.

 

[briancamdudetenger2018]

I'm sure he's not really a Commie despite his background in the KGB. What he wants is to bring back the Russian Empire, IN SOME FORM.

the russian empire like soviet union aka ussr