Comments on: A Case of National Suicide http://www.welmer.org/2009/07/18/a-case-of-national-suicide/ Exploring the East, Revisiting the West Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:01:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: novaseeker http://www.welmer.org/2009/07/18/a-case-of-national-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-3365 novaseeker Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:33:13 +0000 http://www.welmer.org/?p=377#comment-3365 Russia as a place is deeply traumatized. The alcohol issue is inapposite -- it's a stereotype. As you point out the French drink like fish and live longer than Americans do with our tee-totaling ways. From what I have observed when I have been in Russia, the culture there is one of profound loss. The place was always brutal, but the loss of national face (and geography) with the fall of the Soviet Union, coupled with the extreme economic dislocation of the 1990s for many people, has created a new kind of specifically Russian malaise. In large part I think it is based on the idea that as a country Russia is laden with rich potential, but as a reality the place is a mess, the ultimate underachiever, and a society which can't seem to get its act together and harness its true promise. There are far too few opportunities in Russia, there is far too much concentration of economic power, and now there isn't even the collectivist system to fall back on. The sense of having gone to seed is palpable. One of the reasons Putin is so popular in Russia is that he gives lip service at least to that desire to return to greatness. At the same time, of course, he has also led the country down a blind alley by over-reliance on extractive industries for economic development, and an increased concentration of power in the state, both of which leave many men out in the cold. If Russia were to ever get its act together, it could be a true powerhouse. But the strands of dysfunction run deep there. Without anything really to strive for, I suspect that the men of the country are, to a large degree, simply tuning out. Russia as a place is deeply traumatized. The alcohol issue is inapposite — it’s a stereotype. As you point out the French drink like fish and live longer than Americans do with our tee-totaling ways.

From what I have observed when I have been in Russia, the culture there is one of profound loss. The place was always brutal, but the loss of national face (and geography) with the fall of the Soviet Union, coupled with the extreme economic dislocation of the 1990s for many people, has created a new kind of specifically Russian malaise.

In large part I think it is based on the idea that as a country Russia is laden with rich potential, but as a reality the place is a mess, the ultimate underachiever, and a society which can’t seem to get its act together and harness its true promise. There are far too few opportunities in Russia, there is far too much concentration of economic power, and now there isn’t even the collectivist system to fall back on. The sense of having gone to seed is palpable.

One of the reasons Putin is so popular in Russia is that he gives lip service at least to that desire to return to greatness. At the same time, of course, he has also led the country down a blind alley by over-reliance on extractive industries for economic development, and an increased concentration of power in the state, both of which leave many men out in the cold.

If Russia were to ever get its act together, it could be a true powerhouse. But the strands of dysfunction run deep there. Without anything really to strive for, I suspect that the men of the country are, to a large degree, simply tuning out.

]]> By: Lukobe http://www.welmer.org/2009/07/18/a-case-of-national-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-3338 Lukobe Sun, 19 Jul 2009 02:03:04 +0000 http://www.welmer.org/?p=377#comment-3338 Достоевский and Солженицын weren't exactly contemporaries, and there never <i>was</i> a real conception of private property in Russia, but good essay nevertheless. Достоевский and Солженицын weren’t exactly contemporaries, and there never was a real conception of private property in Russia, but good essay nevertheless.

]]> By: Derek http://www.welmer.org/2009/07/18/a-case-of-national-suicide/comment-page-1/#comment-3325 Derek Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:59:20 +0000 http://www.welmer.org/?p=377#comment-3325 God is dead and only fools believe in him, the media told me so. Men's role is that of the kitchen bitch and the ATMs machine, the government told me so. All the problems of the world are caused by men, the women told me so. Fatherhood is revoked and is replaced by the goddess women and her bitch the welfare state, my society told me so. Respect is never given to the men who sacrifice all for those they love, Life told me so. So when trouble comes don't expect me and many others to give a fuck. Let it all burn, as I see no hope of saving it. God is dead and only fools believe in him, the media told me so. Men’s role is that of the kitchen bitch and the ATMs machine, the government told me so. All the problems of the world are caused by men, the women told me so. Fatherhood is revoked and is replaced by the goddess women and her bitch the welfare state, my society told me so. Respect is never given to the men who sacrifice all for those they love, Life told me so.

So when trouble comes don’t expect me and many others to give a fuck. Let it all burn, as I see no hope of saving it.

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