The paradox of Vladimir Putin

[smoltchanov]

Well, as a Russian living now in Moscow i will say that Putin (regretfully) is really an ideal candidate for vast majority of Russian electorate. Not for me (i never voted for him and don't intend to), but for big majority - sure. In fact - he is even slightly more "pro-western" then most people here (you have only to know Russian, and listen to the "political talk" in Moscow area buses - and you will be convinced..). There is an extremely strong anti-West propaganda in Russian mass media in the last couple of years, and, as a result - about 25% of population changed their political stripes: if 2 years ago Putin's rating usually stood at about 60 - 40, now it's routinely something about 85 - 15

[smoltchanov]

Well, as a Russian living now in Moscow i will say that Putin (regretfully) is really an ideal candidate for vast majority of Russian electorate. Not for me (i never voted for him and don't intend to), but for big majority - sure. In fact - he is even slightly more "pro-western" then most people here (you have only to know Russian, and listen to the "political talk" in Moscow area buses - and you will be convinced..). There is an extremely strong anti-West propaganda in Russian mass media in the last couple of years, and, as a result - about 25% of population changed their political stripes: if 2 years ago Putin's rating usually stood at about 60 - 40, now it's routinely something about 85 - 15

Do you really think, it would be that hard to convert this into 15:85?

Yes. Because opposition will not get a mass media in monopol use for couple of years anytime soon. And this is a precondition for it... In Gorbachev's time all mass media worked on improving western image in minds of "soviet people" for years and it's began to have effect only after 2-3 years...

[smoltchanov]

There is a great deal of total bullsh**t in this thread, but by far the most bizarre thing was whoever called Pussy Riot religious and anti-socialist. They are anti-religious and socialist, in fact.

Absolutely.

[smoltchanov]

^ We shall see))))

[smoltchanov]

Smolt, what does

))))
 
Mean? Are you some sort of CIA mole in Moscow placing secret codes in web forums? I hope you are.

In Russia it's frequently used as smile substitute.....)

[smoltchanov]

If we want to classify Vladimir Putin in the left-right scale, we should consider him a right-wing, both on economic and social issues.

But on foreign policy, he is close to Raul Castro, Maduro and Tsipras.

This is only because he's very close to every leader who hates either the US or/and EU. Every single one of them. He absolutely adores to hate the US and EU (as well as NATO).

He's against US and EU because they're the main representants of the ruling order, something he wish to overturn to "restore Russian greatness". If China was representant of the ruling order, Moscow would seek alliances with USA and EU. Putin think of Russia as a natural equal of USA, and it's just a short term weakness which keep Russia down. He doesn't recognise the structural weakness which mean that Russia will never (at least in out lifetimes) be a equal of USA and in fact new powers are rising above it. Of it was not for the Russian nuclear arsenal Russia would not even be a equal of Germany, France or UK, but more a equal with Italy.

+100. Almost nothing to add. If only that such beliefs are not only of Putin's himself, but vast majority of ruling Russian elite and about 80-85% of general population of Russia. After Crimea i heard many times (said with all seriousness) "next one - Alaska!"

[smoltchanov]

If we want to classify Vladimir Putin in the left-right scale, we should consider him a right-wing, both on economic and social issues.

But on foreign policy, he is close to Raul Castro, Maduro and Tsipras.

This is only because he's very close to every leader who hates either the US or/and EU. Every single one of them. He absolutely adores to hate the US and EU (as well as NATO).

Not quite every leader. He's not a fan of ISIS.

Even with his strong anti-Americanism it's difficult to be a big fan of ISIL....

[smoltchanov]

If we want to classify Vladimir Putin in the left-right scale, we should consider him a right-wing, both on economic and social issues.

But on foreign policy, he is close to Raul Castro, Maduro and Tsipras.

This is only because he's very close to every leader who hates either the US or/and EU. Every single one of them. He absolutely adores to hate the US and EU (as well as NATO).

Not quite every leader. He's not a fan of ISIS.

Even with his strong anti-Americanism it's difficult to be a big fan of ISIL....

Oh, he would not have minded them, if not for certain domestic issues

Like those we already saw in Chechnya?