Alexander Etkind - Putin is Propelling Russia Backwards in a Self-Destructive Civilisational Decline

Рет қаралды 30,663

Күн бұрын

GUEST: Alexander Etkind - historian and cultural scientist.
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Russia is tearing itself away from modern civilization and its associated values, norms and comforts. Putin and his coterie of incompetent sycophants seem to be happily destroying the foundations of everything that has been built in the past 30 years. Instead, he’s embracing an alternative future tied to eastern despotism as a vassal state of China - a source of assets to be mined, without any value-added production. What demons have resurfaced from Russia’s past, and what is driving a form of sado-masochistic self-destruction and flagellation, that seems to be propelling Russia backwards in a painful civilisational decline. And where will this out-of-control Troika stop - possibly at an era that pre-dates Peter the Great’s efforts to punch a window onto Europe in the façade of Russia’s feudal-military despotism, established by the khans of the Mongol Horde. But what is the role of such a state in the modern world?
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SPEAKER:
Alexander Etkind is a historian and cultural scientist. Alexander Etkind was born in 1955 in St. Petersburg, Russia, and is a professor at CEU Vienna. His book Russia against Modernity is forthcoming with Polity Press. He was formerly a professor of history and the Chair of Russia-Europe relations at the European University Institute in Florence. He is fellow of the European Institute for International Law and International Relations. He completed his B.A. and M.A. in 1978 in Psychology and English at Leningrad State University. Etkind taught at the European University at St. Petersburg then at Cambridge University where he was also a fellow of King's College. He was a visiting fellow at New York University, Wissenschaftskolleg in Berlin, and other places. Etkind's research focuses on European and Russian intellectual history, memory studies, natural resources and the history of political economy, empire and colonies in Europe, and Russian politics, novels, and film in the 21st century. His has written many compelling books, including Russia Against Modernity, Rethinking the Gulag and Nature's Evil: A Cultural History of Natural Resources.
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LINKS:
Alexander Etkind on Twitter: / sasha_etkind
Alexander Etkind on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexand...
Alexander Etkind at the Moscow Times: www.themoscowtimes.com/author...
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BOOKS:
Russia Against Modernity (2023)
Rethinking the Gulag: Identities, Sources, Legacies (2022)
Nature's Evil: A Cultural History of Natural Resources (2021)
Eros Of the Impossible: The History of Psychoanalysis In Russia (2019)
Development and Dystopia: Studies in Post-Soviet Ukraine and Eastern Europe (2018)
War and Memory in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus (2017)
Cultural Forms of Protest in Russia (2017)
Warped Mourning: Stories of the Undead in the Land of the Unburied (2013)
Internal Colonization: Russia's Imperial Experience (2011)
Remembering Katyn (2013)
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#petrotyranny #hydrocarbons #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #propaganda
#war #disinformation #hybridwarfare #foreignpolicy #communism #sovietunion #postsoviet
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
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PLATFORMS:
Twitter: / curtainsilicon
Instagram: / siliconcurtain
Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6...
Linkedin: / finkjonathan
Patreon: / siliconcurtain
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Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in KZfaq’s algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Пікірлер: 256

@myroslavabasladynsky4937 Жыл бұрын

Victor Chernomyrdin on Russia: “We wanted the best but it turned out as always.” The tragedy of Ukraine is that it has Russia as a neighbor.

@m.walther6434 Жыл бұрын

@@martinoneill5804 there are no benevolent colonialists

@jezalb2710 Жыл бұрын

@@martinoneill5804 as far as I know Éire is still next door to The UK.

@jezalb2710 Жыл бұрын

@@martinoneill5804 since ye are whimps

@PowhiroMus Жыл бұрын

Not for much longer though, once the Ukrainians drive out the Russian invaders Ukraine will fortify and secure its borders, turn its back on Russia and turn towards Europe, mostly likely ally with Poland to defend itself and re-develop/re-build its country before it can achieve NATO protection of its security and independence, Russia will be consigned to obscurity in history reviled by most of the World, pillaged for resources by China, India and others as a used, vassal state, if the Russian Federation manages to stay together.

@jezalb2710 Жыл бұрын

@@martinoneill5804 wimps. Ye are.

@p.h.3987 Жыл бұрын

Finally > 22.000 subscribers. Still by far not enough to reflect the marvellous content of the channel. ❤ You are doing such a great job, Jonathan! ❤❤❤

@afterthesmash Жыл бұрын

With 22,000 subscribers, surely it would be worth making the CC and transcript available for a top-tier guest with a foreign accent who mumbles. I've already consumed a print interview Alexander gave to Sergei Medvedev last September, and I'm not going to wade through a possible 80% rehash at 1×. That's what the KZfaq transcript excels at: letting the viewer figure out whether it's mostly a rehash. No harm done if it is a rehash, there are different audiences in different places. But those of us with the largest catchment basin really depend on this to focus our consumption.

@fredfred2363 Жыл бұрын

Yeah, i just don't get why so few subscribers. This channel should be exploding. Such good interviews 👍🏻😀🇬🇧

@p.h.3987 Жыл бұрын

@@afterthesmash Arrogance if those who speak ZERO foreign languages.

@AG-gr4fm Жыл бұрын

100%. This channel became my favorite and, sadly, I just discovered it a few days ago

@robertsmuggles6871 Жыл бұрын

Nemtsov was right all along. Jake Broe featured his 2014 interview on naroda yesterday. The transition of Russia from a European power to a Chinese resource colony is good news. We will no longer talk about Russia in the same way. It is an ex-European entity.

@bobjohnbowles Жыл бұрын

Don't get too smug about that. This could catapult China to the #1 economic power on the planet. Think about what that might mean. Interesting times are coming. As in the ancient Chinese curse, 'May you live in interesting times.'

@rg-cc5kg Жыл бұрын

If China takes control over Siberia and the Amur region Central Russia might not be of greater interest to Beijing. Muscovy might return as a european entity, - a national state with a much smaller territory.

@user-jq1mg2mz7o Жыл бұрын

@@bobjohnbowles that's not a real chinese phrase. also china is already technically the #1 economic power, yet it is still nowhere as influential externally as its government wishes, and that influence and economic power will only decline in the coming decades with an unresponsive government, failed transition to high-income economy, and rapid demographic transition

@wertigon Жыл бұрын

More likely outcome; Russian ties to China grows in the short term, then China invades Russia and breaks the mighty bear in two. It is quite telling that Pooh Bear went to Russia, spoke to Putin... Then immediately called the Stans without Russias involvement afterwards. If Khazakstan becomes a Chinese vassal state just like Belarus is a Russian vasall state, Russia might lose most of the territory east of the Urals. Not necessarily under direct rule of China, it could become Siberiastan, but I see it almost inevitable now that this will happen.

@juliane__ Жыл бұрын

@@rg-cc5kg I hope so. And if they are continueing being the bad guy, they will flood Europe with young and middle age refugees. Further decline and finally we have a very big North Korea with maybe below 100 Mio people. Maybe further disintegrating. If they can recover from Imperialism somewhat, maybe we get an uncertain power to the East mingeling between the West and China. Just hope the future wars around Russia will be not as intense as the Ukraine Invasion.

@JohnRodriguesPhotographer Жыл бұрын

Would love to sit and talk to this guest. A. Few pots of coffee and just talk. With fall of the Soviet Union i had a great deal of hope for the Russian people to embrace democracy. Then along came the election Putin and his elected prime minister. They took turns via fixed elections, took turns being president. I knew then a dictatorship had been installed. Around 2000 Putin declared his desire to recreate the Soviet sphere of influence in eastern Europe. As Russia flexed its flacid muscles in Chechnya and George, the world sat impotently disinterestedly in the deaths of tens of thousands. Then in 2014 we saw the recreation of the Munich accords. Instead of Czechoslovakia, the new victim was Ukraine. I told my son there would be a new war in Ukraine. We stood by when Russia shot down an airliner killing hundreds. If i could, I would point out to Russian soldiers, you have weapons, turn and march on Moscow.

@j.k.d.126 Жыл бұрын

I think Putin is afraid of that very scenario which is why he is offering very little training to new conscripts if they die before their tour of duty is up they are not a threat.

@20chocsaday Жыл бұрын

Putin might be more afraid of their mothers. The British Empire disappeared within 20 years. Back through history empires have gone after they had seemed permanent and invasion was more likely proof of the disappearance than the cause. Meanwhile the people at the centre of the former empire don't believe it has gone. In some cases the disappearance was because it no longer had the money buy off the more virile competition. Russian oil and gas is becoming less valuable.

@20chocsaday Жыл бұрын

By the way, there were two aircraft on that route 10 minutes apart. One landed safely in Russia and the passengers went about their business. Some people had waved their friends off and home. They knew about the downed airliner before the other one landed. The passengers who went to Russia did not, neither did anyone tell them. Till they got a phone call asking if they were still alive.

@HungryGhost999 Жыл бұрын

@@20chocsaday didn’t know that

@galanis38 Жыл бұрын

With the dissolution of the USSR the US-led West, with the US as sole remaining superpower, assumed the role of world hegemon. It sought to loot Russia's economy and resources in cohoots with Russian oligarchs who bought up huge assets on the cheap as former state enterprises were privatized, plunging Russia into near total economic collapse. It fomented "color revolutions" in former Soviet republics on Russia's immediate periphery and expanded its military presence to Russia's borders. It showed -- and still shows -- far more interest in dominating or even breaking up Russia than in truly promoting democracy there. Democracy, it seems, is good as long as it serves Western geo-strategic interests. Under Vladimir Putin's leadership Russia recovered from the post-Cold War economic collapse, the oligarchs were put on leash, and Russia was able to push back on Western threats to its vital security concerns. Democracy? Democracy has to evolve from within a country, not by fiat from outside powers aspiring for domination above all.

@geoffsimpkins7650 Жыл бұрын

Vassal of China was an easy call. Now, Russia has to use Chinese currency in transactions. China doesn’t need to occupy unless Russian labor becomes economically inefficient, and then, they may make that call. Russia chose the wrong way, could have been a decent country.

@j.k.d.126 Жыл бұрын

His Delusional hatred of the West has opened the door to a Far Worse Future for Russia and its People long after he becomes a footnote in History alongside Hitler Stalin etc.

@armandomercado2248 Жыл бұрын

Russia will harbor a deep sense of betrayal for what the west did to them. They will never understand they did it to themselves.

@mestubbs Жыл бұрын

An utterly gripping discussion. Thanks again. Slava Ukraini 💙💛

@SNOWDONTRYFAN Жыл бұрын

For sure thier must some level headed people in Russia who can see the writing on the wall, especially the thought of the mighty Russia now having to go cap in hand to China

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

Undoubtedly there are - just far too few of them do anything about it...

@davidelliott5843 Жыл бұрын

Putin and his friends have removed anyone capable of opposing the regime. Then add the poor education and so many in a poor state of health leaves very few to care what happens.

@sumiland6445 Жыл бұрын

I think those Russians are NOT in Russia anymore.

@m.walther6434 Жыл бұрын

The better parts of russia are allways dead, in prison or exiled.

@robertsmuggles6871 Жыл бұрын

I have a Russian friend who lives in the UK. His mother still lives in Moscow. Last year I gently asked him about being able to visit his mother. I got a very dark response "I no longer have a country to go back to". There are far too few Russian voices in British media & this has been the problem with the Putin era all along. Silicon Curtain is finally filling this huge gap in understanding. It has taken 20 years FFS. It amazes me that, years ago, no one in the BBC did a show called 'understanding Russia' - the stories were just about Russian 'Models', Bond Street shoppers and Bentley opening another shop in Moscow - it was infantile.

@wouterke9871 Жыл бұрын

Wonderfull channel exposing the mechanisms at play on the background of this Russia Ukranian war. Great guests and interviews!

@Mr.Monta77 Жыл бұрын

This channel is excellent. I wish you could share your content to a wider audience. Hopefully a TV network will pick it up soon. I can see you having these conversations in a studio, perhaps with a third person to add perspective. Even so, in the current YT form, the content is very informative and important.

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

That would be good! Let’s see!

@colinjames2469 Жыл бұрын

KZfaq is pretty damned wide 🤦🏻‍♂

@SapienAnamoly Жыл бұрын

Well said.

@Mr.Monta77 Жыл бұрын

@@colinjames2469 My point is that Jonathan and his channel deserves many more viewers and more advertising. That’s the power of TV. In any case, I am greatful to enjoy the wise and clever guests on the show. My Ukrainian friends has a much more urgent perspective though, more like a Battle of Britain -situation. And that’s perhaps my only critizism: everything about Ukraine that we deliberate and reflect upon is all well and good, but if we want to understand the situation from the Ukrainan perspective, we need to open our eyes to the reality on the ground. It’s a matter of life and death, literally. A good friend of mine has a hairdresser salon in Kiev, and have been fighting in Donbas since early March, 2022. He spent last week with his family - his first leave in a year - and returned to the front yesterday afternoon. He told me honestly: ‘ - It’s very bad. Very bad…’ There was never a question of not going, not offering his life for Ukraine. But it made an impression to hear him say it, and knowing that he and his men, may make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. It’s not academic, not theoretical, not statistical, financial or logistical. Its a matter of pain and blood. As I write this, my friends are facing a very dark and sinister force. I wish more guests on the channel would address the reality and the urgency of the situation in Ukraine. I suspect the conflict is much more difficult than they let on, and that many many more will die. We suffer from confirmation bias, and want this to go well, and the Ukrainians know that our optimism is essential for the support to keep coming. But I suspect the situation is much harder than we understand. And we should address that more.

@chrisnamaste3572 Жыл бұрын

Apparently, Gene Roddenberry got it just right with the Klingons being the Russian analogue. They mirror the Mongol mentality and Khanate Kingdoms after Mongol conquest. Russia against progress/modernity indeed.

@liberty_and_justice67 Жыл бұрын

Great discussion! I know it is highly speculative, but very interested in possible outcomes within Russian Federation itself resulting from defeat in Ukraine.

@sumiland6445 Жыл бұрын

Did you watch Timothy Snyder's address to the UN Security Council a week ago about "russophobia"?

@liberty_and_justice67 Жыл бұрын

That was masterful!

@aaronwalsh8469 Жыл бұрын

His interview on Frontline was great

@fredfred2363 Жыл бұрын

It was great!

@sumiland6445 Жыл бұрын

Long before he made that speech, I said no one hates the Russians as much as Putin.

@mchozen2958 Жыл бұрын

Snyder’s 17 or so episodes on the History of Ukraine is a fascinating Yale university course, free on KZfaq. Brilliant, as are all of his interviews.

@nnsnumbersandnotesunlimite7368 Жыл бұрын

Putin epitaph: He was clueless to stop the end of the Union. He thrived for the collapse of the Federation.

@thedownwardmachine Жыл бұрын

It seems like a resource extraction autocratic semi failed state is the degenerate solution to this equation, with North Korea, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe serving as case studies.

@appstratum9747 Жыл бұрын

Terrific interview and conversation. Thanks and congratulations once again, Jonathan.

@horvathsogranfume658 Жыл бұрын

putin destroyed ruzzia in a way that no other human could, its astounding

@shooster5884 Жыл бұрын

Yes, Russia should be a fantastic, country ... Unfortunately it is not..

@18_rabbit Жыл бұрын

no, that is the fallacious conclusion of all this. Reality is there are other politicians in Ru who could have done just as badly. Medvedev, Petroshov, etc etc etc. Individuals can do nothing as potent as Putin has done, without a small cadre of related insiders. And then the next layers downward in their classical hierarchical militaristic society which has had social violence at every personal level forever, at least as far back as the 1980's and far earlier of course. Machismo/domestic violence, extremely high alcohol abuse rates. Not an individual man. A group and a series of layers on down to the bottom.

@sailawayteam Жыл бұрын

@@18_rabbit you're of course right but maybe the op used putin as a collective noun. Actually, I will coin a term "a putin of cronies". But on a more serious note, individuals do also matter, especially if they have fought their way to the top of a criminal organisation such as the thing that calls itself russia. By that time all those who are not yes-men and similarly deranged have already been defenestrated.

@longandshort6639 Жыл бұрын

Just like what Hitler did to Germany

@Gonzo_-zb5mf Жыл бұрын

It´s the evil spirit of the Mongols that never left Russia. They can´t get rid of this heritage.

@robertsmuggles6871 Жыл бұрын

I've heard Finns talk about this link with the mongols - seems weird and very uneuropean.

@peterwhite7428 Жыл бұрын

I don’t think that after Peter the great Russia ever sought modernity. Visit Russia and you see the people seem to seek modernity, but the government throughout the twentieth century sought feudalism.

@IndelibleNihilist Жыл бұрын

This channel is exceptionally high quality, I cannot thank you enough!

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

👍

@psalm1197 Жыл бұрын

It’s pure propaganda my friend. And not very slick either

@CollectiveWesterner Жыл бұрын

Mr. Curtain, thank you so much for all of your hard work and dedication to provide us with such valuable information. It is greatly appreciated.

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

👍

@HungryGhost999 Жыл бұрын

Fascinating conversation. Thank you 🙏

@Raptorman0909 Жыл бұрын

Correction: Significant deposits of oil and gas were discovered in the Black Sea around Crimea and in central and eastern Ukraine. These energy reserves were discovered with the help of several western energy companies and they were working to begin tapping those resources, but Russia didn't like the idea that Ukraine might become a competitor with Russia for energy and even more important to people like Putin is that Ukraine selling energy to Europe would largely eliminate the leverage Russia was developing with Nord Stream 1 and 2 and the other energy delivery systems into Europe. As soon as Russia invaded Crimea the western companies helping Ukraine find and develop their energy reserves beat feet for obvious reasons. In summary: Ukraine has natural resources that could significantly improve the standard of living for the Ukrainian people but Russia would not allow that to happen. The Russian invasion and attempted enslavement of the Ukrainian people amount to a modern Holodomor...

@ekesandras1481 Жыл бұрын

any major river on Earth that has been transporting sediments for millions of years into the sea, has oil and gas in its delta and offshore the mouth of the river: the Rhine in the North Sea, the Euphrates and Tigris, the Niger, the Nile, the Mississippi, the Danube, the Dnjepr, the Don, also the Volga, probably also the Amazon. That's also the reason why Snake Island is important. Some years before the war Ukraine and Romania had signed an agreement to start exploiting the gas reserves off the Danube Delta and around Snake Island together. Putin didn't like that.

@mumsow Жыл бұрын

Fascinating interview. Thank you.

@thomasbernecky2078 Жыл бұрын

A much shorter version of russian history: "And then things got worse."

@strezztechnoid Жыл бұрын

Appreciate your long format journalism and its availability. From the U.S. it is amazing how blind the State Department, CIA, et al that has little understanding of Russian cultural and history and the challenges that is a global crisis. I, a former member of the Claremont Association for Mutual American and Soviet Understanding, had an opportunity to experience exchanges with the intellectuals crossing international and political borders. Not much has changed in the climate and discourse that is based on reality and mutual coexistence.

@Terry_Fella Жыл бұрын

Jonathan, have you previously done, or would you consider doing, an interview with Professor Timothy Snyder? 🙏 Would be incredible if you could! Incidentally, I'm not sure why, but, it's taken me until This Week (😲) to discover your channel! 😱 That said I'm already totally hooked. (I listen to Ben Hodges whenever he appears & it was thanks to your recent interview with him that discovered you.) I'm now super busy working my way through the myriad of other great interviews & videos you've done. 🤓🤓🤓 Thank you so much & keep up the brilliant work! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

@thinker646 Жыл бұрын

I heard him say a few weeks back that he'd love to get mr Snyder on. I know he said it and i believe it's on his list.

@andrewfarrington2193 Жыл бұрын

Very good. Very acute. Thank you.

@mrkeogh Жыл бұрын

Is there anywhere Alexander *isn't* a Fellow? 😄 Another incredibly accomplished and impressive guest! 👏👏👏

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

👍

@QuixEnd Жыл бұрын

I couldn't have imagined this back in 2020. Me and my Russian and Ukrainian friends hanging out and working together all summer, now theyre all going back in time if they're even still around.

@gregb3457 Жыл бұрын

He was holding back, and I'm not sure why. When I read the bio of him above and digest his comments, I realize there is somewhat of a mismatch. He gave us lots of confirmation and some new insights to be sure; but I believe he has lots more to say and give. Thanks again Jonathan. This was / is very helpful. You are appreciated, to say the least.

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

I think he’s of an older generation of academics who is more fluent on the page, rather than in an interview. Perhaps cautious about the words he chooses… nonetheless he did say at the end he’d be interested in doing a follow-up conversation.

@lornamorgan3575 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the update.

@ellenmurray7747 Жыл бұрын

Please activate the CC button for this content

@casparillo987 Жыл бұрын

Subtitles are not available

@fredfred2363 Жыл бұрын

Subs would help the international audience for sure. And the channel would grow...👍🏻

@pansepot1490 Жыл бұрын

CC works fine now. For the record I am writing 7 hrs after the OP. I have noticed that sometimes the feature becomes available hours after the upload. It’s possible that KZfaq needs time to process and produce the autogenerated CC.

@RasmusDyhrFrederiksen Жыл бұрын

As alway the discussions on this channel are of impeccable quality and deeply interesting.

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

👍

@uribensh Жыл бұрын

Thanks, very interesting and well done

@stevenpalmer3040 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Jonathan that was a good one. I suspect the Russian state will continue to unravel in downward spiral long after Ukraine kicks them off its territory entirely.

@j.k.d.126 Жыл бұрын

"Dementia Maybe" Whatever the cause it seems to be the actions of a Delusional Person with an Oversized Vision of his Power and Importance in the World.

@horvathsogranfume658 Жыл бұрын

he built himself into an elaborate golden prison

@johnbaker1256 Жыл бұрын

Tsar Vladimir the Deluded

@idanceforpennies281 Жыл бұрын

I heard many times "Don't assume the Russians are ten feet tall, because they 'aint". Afghanistan should have definitively told us that. They're exercises are perfunctuary and rare more like set-piece demonstrations than real exercises. Their NCO class is non-existent (a huge error). The only reason why they have so many weapons, like tanks, is because they never throw anything away. You got some rusted out piece of junk in a field somewhere and its still on the books as a tank.

@gregsutton2400 Жыл бұрын

Missiles and bombs do not have lead in them. And most soviet designed small arms have very little lead in the rounds. The guests concerns are kind of off in that regard.

@snazzy5844 Жыл бұрын

That is correct. Bullets are mostly steel, with brass cartridges. Shells are mostly steel. Rockets may however contain some more toxic material maybe in heat shielding, and any explosives of course are never human friendly.

@shaiaheyes2c41 Жыл бұрын

I have to listen through this thoroughly later. It was a great introduction by the way. 20:06 This is International Communism, you know, "The World Revolution", "Dictatorship of the proletariat" etc. - this total disdain for the individual. I"m reading "Cursed Days" by Ivan Bunin this evening, and he explains it so well, it's like you're there with him in Odessa, in the year of Our Lord 1919.

@18_rabbit Жыл бұрын

odesa. Odessa is in TX/Tayxass/usa

@mchozen2958 Жыл бұрын

It was once spelled with two s’

@jbbrown8079 Жыл бұрын

Fascinating!

@shanecollins8427 Жыл бұрын

Superb analysis and insights

@davidelliott5843 Жыл бұрын

The Ukraine borders to 1919 went over to River Don and around the Black Sea to Turkey. The language was spoken as far as Caspian Sea. However the Soviets replaced the indigenous people with Muscovite Russians. Ukraine today has no need to extend the war to take these areas because it’s highly likely they will eventually choose to join the successful state on their border. A bit like a post Soviet reunification.

@20chocsaday Жыл бұрын

Why would they want to? They have and still are being shown that the Kremlin thinks that they don't matter. Meanwhile they taste freedom and it's either work to make it better or sit on the dung heap. What would you choose?

@zer0homer Жыл бұрын

To be frank, South-West Russia to this very day speaks Russian language with very Central (not eastern cities, cities were all crammed with the most qualified specialists and students from all over the Union) Ukrainian pronounciations, and ethnic Ukrainians, even those who were written down as Russians 1-3 generations into Imperial and Soviet russification but still with all the telling surnames (namely the ones ending on ko and chuk) are a significant minority, 12 recorded in census, 30% and more de facto, despite all the deportations and famines and cultural supression. My bf is from rural Krasnodar krai, halfblood, our mutual friends are from Rostov right next to it, a lot of people who do not watch TV or subscribe to some grand imperial narratives are quietly against war, and from what they can tell, fat chance and all, but these two-three bordering regions could as well join Ukraine if Russia was to dissolve, with Caspian and Caucasian republics going their own way. Those are the most fertile and warm lands in Russia, a bit dry the farther eastwards you get, but Krasnodar and Rostov are endless green orchards and fields. People are extremely traumatized from mismanagement and centuries of crackdown on local cultures (the abomination that are modern russian cossacs are not even worth mentioning), but I wonder if with all the communist and then fascistic craze from Kremlin gone people would eventually reverted to their former ways and the steppe and grasslands there would become yet again the land of free farmers. Besides, a lot of those fabled settlers/colonizers you talk about tend to be russified members of finn minorities from the north, fair-skinned turkic peoples from south-east, blends and all. Very few ethnic groups in Russian Soviet Republic actually resisted russification through the centuries and were not smothered by taxes, deported or otherwise repressed

@vedser Жыл бұрын

which successful state are you talking about? ukraine is dirt poor and will be like that in foreseeable future.

@irongron Жыл бұрын

That was a great conversation. If we are going to hear about a decent Russian perspective, then dissidents like Alexander are the ones to talk to. Far more realistic than being pushed Kremlin BS. Defeintely have him back when his new book comes out!

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

👍

@ALS-kt1qd Жыл бұрын

Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇸 🇺🇦

@simplulo Жыл бұрын

"Most petrostates-think about Saudi Arabia, Norway, Brazil, or Nigeria-are mostly post-colonial rather than post-imperial. They are all former colonies. That's an entirely different historical, social, and psychological structure of sentiments." ~Alexander Etkind 00:18:59

@pagarb Жыл бұрын

This is an amazing interview-conservation... it touches on a very central historic issue that dates back to 1949, the time of the Opium Wars, when Imperial Russia took advantage of the British and French defeat of China. The French got Indochina (now called Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) and Britain got Hong Kong and a lot of concessions in Shanghai to sell opium which generated enormous profits. The big beneficiary was Russia which got a vast area in Northern China called the Maritime Provinces. Prof Etkind points out that a lot of the tanks used by Russia in Ukraine came from stocks in these contested areas that were there to deter China from making a move to get these provinces back. I've been wonder when someone would bring this issue up, it's the source of an enormous grievance. We haven't heard the last of this. it's a much bigger issue that Taiwan, the only reason it's not an active issue is the time and opportunity to do something about it hasn't come up. But don't kid yourself... it will!!!

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

It think it will too. Russia is screwed!

@ekesandras1481 Жыл бұрын

The Khanti and Mansi in Western Siberia, where the largest gas reserves are exploited, are linguistically the closest Finno-Ugric relatives of the Hungarians, much closer than the Fins, or Estonians, yet Hungary doesn't care for them at all. Most Hungarians don't even know about them.

@dh1380 Жыл бұрын

This channel seemed to come out of nowhere but my word is it good. Thanks. I think some more control over the audio fidelity of the guests would be useful. This one sounded quite muffled but it was mostly because of some very low frequencies going in. Some more mid range eq would have made him clearer.

@Diossvk Жыл бұрын

Excellent interview without any westplaining. We in the CEEC's now what a threat Russia is. Most of those western analyst have failed miserably. Unfortunately, they are still influencing desisions on arms deliveries to Ukraine from the West ( e.g. Jake Sullivan). They still fear they will provoke Russia to escalate, albeit it is Russia who is escalating all the time. Unbelievable naivity.

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

The escalation propaganda narrative is probably Russia’s most successful one…

@soothsayer2406 Жыл бұрын

Wrooonnnnngggggggg.. there I saved everyone a lot of time that otherwise would have been wasted.

@pagarb Жыл бұрын

Sorry, there's a typo in my previous comment. The Opium War was in 1849, not 1949..

@AlloBruxelles Жыл бұрын

Great guest again. When will his book be released ? I couldn't order it yet.

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

In the next month, I think. I’ll add a post in the community chat when it is!

@andersbjrnsen7203 Жыл бұрын

Norwegian here: pretty interesting being defined as a post colonial country 😅 Swedish and Danish rule yes, but colonial, that is a bit of overstatement..

@canadianlumberjack7642 Жыл бұрын

Welcome Comrades to 1900. I was calling all this since March /22. Do i get an interview? (It is a great vid honest)

@steveharris8248 Жыл бұрын

A fantastic talk, as usual. Unsurpassed for insight into Russian leaders' [whackjob] behavior.

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

👍

@johnryan8645 Жыл бұрын

One of the clearest analysis we’ve heard yet. Hmmm, Exxon are you listening? There are local power brokers ready to make independent deals…

@johnfitzpatrick3197 Жыл бұрын

Very good analysis. However, the tone of condemnation doesn't sit too well , considering similar exploitation of resources in provinces of the UK The disparity of funding of transport, for example , is nothing short of obscene. Russia has Moscow and St Petersburk, the UK has London aka the London laundromat and a system of corruption through tax havens that put the Russian 'mafia' and fellow oligarchs to shame. Glad the opium wars got a mention... but then the contextualisation ended, beyond the 1860's!

@toby9999 Жыл бұрын

I'm not trying to be a dick but your comments regarding the UK are irrelevant. I've seen this kind of argument a lot, but I don't see the point. Russia stands or falls based on its merits. Whether Russia is good, bad, or whatever can be determined by the relevant evidence. Yes, other countries do bad stuff and dumb stuff and worse stuff, but that isn't relevant to the Russia argument. Sorry for the rant.

@terryhand Жыл бұрын

@@toby9999 I quite agree. Whataboutism is an intelectually empty argument.

@johnfitzpatrick3197 Жыл бұрын

It's cslled context! If you read Orwell's 1984 you'll get the picture. It's absolutely imperative to understsnd how propaganda is used to whitewash actions. I totally condemn Russia's behaviour, but it's tge old old story of we must be right as they are wrong. Glad you feel so smugly intellectually self righteous in defining my lack of focus. It eould never do to look at the whole picture, or to question hypocrisy. I find it sad that this is the best you can offer by way of argument. Bssically you are telling me stick to the given script. 'Whataboutism'? Jeez!

@LisaNH934 Жыл бұрын

Liked 👍 subscribed ✔ ❇ Thank you.

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

👍

@hawklord100 Жыл бұрын

History shows that when oppressed empires collapse there is a great shaking and realignment of peoples turning away from the oppressor's. Lets hope that Europe is prepared to help these peoples to understand that freedom does not mean freedom for vengeance but freedom to be free.

@playedout148 Жыл бұрын

Russia has always been like this.

@sumiland6445 Жыл бұрын

Where's the new video that was posted after this? I can't see it. 👀

@sumiland6445 Жыл бұрын

I found it! 😄

@WalterBurton Жыл бұрын

👍👍👍

@rsf5898 Жыл бұрын

To correct a point Etkind made. Bullets normally have a lead core in a copper or steel based jacket (also it generally remains encapsulated) - modern bombs don’t contain lead. The concern mentioned by Etkind regarding lead contamination is grossly exaggerated. He’d have been better being more concerned over the very real problem of undetonated munitions.

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

Mines and unexploded ordnance are a huge problem, I believe… especially in the quantities Russia has littered Ukraine with…

@1jediwitch Жыл бұрын

Oh, I would❤to speak with this gentleman in person. What a wonderful guest, thank you both for a delightful interview. Glory to🇺🇦Glory to the Heroes.

@janechambers9980 Жыл бұрын

Great guy--talking under his breath. Wish he would speak directly: I would learn a lot.

@toby9999 Жыл бұрын

Subtitles are working now. That might help.

@stephensipe5405 Жыл бұрын

If Russia implodes from its current state, I can only see fringe republics going independent. The Urals, Siberia, Irkutsk, and Kamchatka will stick with Russia, but in a less central government. However, China might not wait for Russia to consolidate its new format. China has Imperial designs on Russian territory. Mongolia could be invaded. Irkutsk and Kamchatka could be invaded in whole or in part. China might be willing to make a deal with the US and Japan the way the US and UK divided Germany and Eastern Europe with the Soviet Union/Russia. If so, Japan would want Sakhalin Island and the Kuril Islands. The is would probably treat northern Kamchatka and Irkutsk as a Commonwealth until those people could determine what they wanted politically and geopolitically. Maybe they would stay with Russia. Maybe they would wanted independence as part of an Asia Common Market. Or they may want to remain under US supervision with a local Governor for protection.

@carlneville2088 Жыл бұрын

Oh yeah .. I forgot about subtitles. Duhhh

@concernedrabbit9075 Жыл бұрын

Apparently there are a lot of geriatric former members of the politbureau in present russian government. Surely when those geezers finally die some if the momentum to reclaim former soviet countries will wither.

@thomasherrin6798 Жыл бұрын

The Russians are unlikely to prosecute another war (Unless it's Civil), so major changes will have to be made, it's current military has been exposed in the cruel light of modern warfare, it is not the only one with nuclear weapons it's options are severely limited it is unclear where it is going to go but it is not upwards, it's either a disaster or a catastrophe!?!

@martingisser273 Жыл бұрын

Yeah, gerontocracy (60+) is a major problem. Not just in Russia. But much less so in Ukraine. I guess that's one reason why they are so different.

@fredfred2363 Жыл бұрын

I heard the exact same discussed on the inside russia channel.

@pynn1000 Жыл бұрын

Excellent discussion. "1919 borders" would mean parts of current Romania, Moldova,, Poland becoming part of Ukraine, as well as parts of Russia and Belarus. The fact that Ukraine has lost territory before is a good point, but calls for action would weaken solidarity with Ukraine. Internationally recognized current borders, great.

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

I don’t think anyone in Ukraine or who supports Ukraine is suggesting it retakes western territories from its allies. I think the point is intended to undermine the Russian narrative about ‘this thing is ours, historically’ - it’s just a red herring- as what’s important is the internationally recognised legal borders of 1991. Any discussion about reverting to historic borders is just imperialism, and Russian propaganda BS.

@earlgrey9329 Жыл бұрын

@@SiliconCurtain You are totally wrong ! Russia is the legal heir to the Sovjetunion , and it brought the Crimea peninsula with it ,into the Sovjetunion ! Ukraine never declared itself a country or sovereign state !!! Either you don't know history ! -or you are deliberately propagating a lie ! I tend to believe the latter because of your downloathing and hateful speak about Russia !

@toughr1506 Жыл бұрын

@@earlgrey9329 Ukraine never declared itself a sovereign country?! Have you been in coma? Get better.

@robertlee7560 Жыл бұрын

He might leave at night when it's dark.

@coalhouse_walkerjnr4735 Жыл бұрын

Jonathan, brilliant informative interview, as ever. I really like your channel. Would you be able to set up a £Thanks account so that one can make ad hoc donations to the channel? Many thanks and best regards.

@Arcsurvivor Жыл бұрын

Yes, backwards moscovia goes,

@chrisperrins8082 8 ай бұрын

Russia must be made to pay for the clean up of Ukraine and the restoration of its infrastructures damaged by Russia.

@sharon_shaw Жыл бұрын

Russia recreating the Dark Ages in 2023

@itsallinthehead Жыл бұрын

Subtitles, for the love of god, please!

@robertlee7560 Жыл бұрын

Stop Putin from getting a rocket to the spacestation sounds like a cartoon.i can see Putin giving the 1 finger salute to the world as he gets above the clouds.is there females on the spacestation .

@jackbolder5734 Жыл бұрын

Very hard to follow, maybe next time us some translation/translators.

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

I’m adding captions today, if that helps.

@carlneville2088 Жыл бұрын

I am uncomfortable being personal but if this guest is going to proffer his opinion he really needs to make an effort with his annunciation. Between the mild accent, the gravelly voice and the minimal lip movement, mostly what i heard is mumble mumble mumble..

@orctowngrot8842 Жыл бұрын

Maybe English is his fifth language?

@deeptime5581 Жыл бұрын

Russia never developed properly and is now a third world country to be exploited for its natural resources. A third world country with nuclear weapons. This failure to industrialize dates back to the 19th century,

@robertsmuggles6871 Жыл бұрын

I see today's Russia as like a 70s African dictatorship - eg. Idi Amin or Robert Mugabe. Yet it has the outward appearance of european culture - an illusion hiding something predatory but primitive.

@robgrey6183 Жыл бұрын

Can't understand half of what this guy is saying. Subtitles would help.

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

When I have time, I’ll add them.

@jbbrown8079 Жыл бұрын

Maybe because I had headphones - I heard about 95%,

@v8pilot Жыл бұрын

Hard to understand Mr Etkind's diction.

@ellenmurray7747 Жыл бұрын

Captions would help. This man does not have very clear enunciation

@EvilMAiq Жыл бұрын

@@horvathsogranfume658 How embarrassing for you.

@horvathsogranfume658 Жыл бұрын

@@EvilMAiq eat 💩💩 clown 🤏

@irvhh143 Жыл бұрын

Sounds like Canada

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

Does it though?

@phillip6500 Жыл бұрын

Bravo only wasted 1 min of my time on this flower ery propagand

@poornalingam6261 Жыл бұрын

Comedic puppet zelensky 🤡💯

@SiliconCurtain Жыл бұрын

You’re a sock puppet

@toughr1506 Жыл бұрын

Ha, Zelensky is a successful comedian, businessman and leader of the country during the wartime. And his opponent is what exactly? A mediocrity that managed to grab power and steal wealth from his own citizens.

@toughr1506 Жыл бұрын

Most countries have mafia, but russian mafia has a state…