Outdoor Cafe
I never had a political conversation with a Russian, the closest I came was with a young Polish businessman while we were on a boat standing in the rain. He sold chemicals worldwide. The company was owned by British but run from the US. His attitude was very much like some other Russians though. A sort of over heated capitalism I'd call it.
For instance, he told me of a trip to Iraq and said of the Iraqi's, "All they talk about is jihad, jihad all the time, I tell them why don't you do business with the Americans, they are good at it, but all they talk is Jihad." Drawing a parallel I said "Well how would you feel if your country was occupied by, say the Nazis? Would you do business with them? Surely that is what many Iraqis feel like. You know about the oil laws the US is pushing on the Iraqis.... ?" He seemed to take it under consideration but I felt he was about to say, "It's not personal, just business" I told him that many in the West had seen enough of this kind of capitalism.
In general, on the streets, Petersburg is more capitalistic than the US, and upon my arrival at JFK Airport on the way back I have to say it had all the trappings of a glitzy police state with uniformed army soldiers carrying M-16's on guard.
I think the Russians are essentially pragmatic if not cynical. Russian/Western history is senselessly combative for the most part. I'm not talking about the Bolsheviks and the Soviets but people to people. And I think this quote is still true:
"Russia has only heard applause from the West twice in the past century - and only when it committed suicide, accompanied by social disintegration and economic collapse: in February 1917 and December 1991."
-- Vyacheslav Nikonov
Their inferiority complex is the corollary to the West's superiority complex. It's worth keeping in mind when you encounter Russian boasting. A measure of respect for Russia's views from the West would go a long way in changing the atmosphere. One of the greatest tragedies of all time is the cost of the Cold War. Could a tempered pragmatism removed from straitjacket ideologies have changed the world with the resources, brains, and money saved while also softening hardened ideologies? I don't think this was entirely unplanned either, just as I don't think the current tension is "natural". I think there are forces who would have seen cooperation as deadly to their agenda.
My impression is that the Russians view politics as a vast zero sum game and prefer to avoid it. Putin is viewed with some suspicion, as a strongman, a boss, but he is also very highly regarded for his standing up to the Western powers and as a nationalist leader who looks out for Russia's interests. I do not think the Russians are anxious to see him go.
Personally I'm still uncertain about Putin, If I judge him only by his words he is one of the world's most rational, intelligent and clever leaders. If he is indeed a patriot I predict in time he will be viewed as one of Russia's greatest leaders.
Solzhenitsyn's full article deserves a read. I don't have any major disagreements with it.
www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,druck-496003,00...
And, Putin's performance at the G-8 is also worth the read:
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17855.htm
and:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdI7cA06-M4&eurl=http://www.r...
Outdoor Cafe
I never had a political conversation with a Russian, the closest I came was with a young Polish businessman while we were on a boat standing in the rain. He sold chemicals worldwide. The company was owned by British but run from the US. His attitude was very much like some other Russians though. A sort of over heated capitalism I'd call it.
For instance, he told me of a trip to Iraq and said of the Iraqi's, "All they talk about is jihad, jihad all the time, I tell them why don't you do business with the Americans, they are good at it, but all they talk is Jihad." Drawing a parallel I said "Well how would you feel if your country was occupied by, say the Nazis? Would you do business with them? Surely that is what many Iraqis feel like. You know about the oil laws the US is pushing on the Iraqis.... ?" He seemed to take it under consideration but I felt he was about to say, "It's not personal, just business" I told him that many in the West had seen enough of this kind of capitalism.
In general, on the streets, Petersburg is more capitalistic than the US, and upon my arrival at JFK Airport on the way back I have to say it had all the trappings of a glitzy police state with uniformed army soldiers carrying M-16's on guard.
I think the Russians are essentially pragmatic if not cynical. Russian/Western history is senselessly combative for the most part. I'm not talking about the Bolsheviks and the Soviets but people to people. And I think this quote is still true:
"Russia has only heard applause from the West twice in the past century - and only when it committed suicide, accompanied by social disintegration and economic collapse: in February 1917 and December 1991."
-- Vyacheslav Nikonov
Their inferiority complex is the corollary to the West's superiority complex. It's worth keeping in mind when you encounter Russian boasting. A measure of respect for Russia's views from the West would go a long way in changing the atmosphere. One of the greatest tragedies of all time is the cost of the Cold War. Could a tempered pragmatism removed from straitjacket ideologies have changed the world with the resources, brains, and money saved while also softening hardened ideologies? I don't think this was entirely unplanned either, just as I don't think the current tension is "natural". I think there are forces who would have seen cooperation as deadly to their agenda.
My impression is that the Russians view politics as a vast zero sum game and prefer to avoid it. Putin is viewed with some suspicion, as a strongman, a boss, but he is also very highly regarded for his standing up to the Western powers and as a nationalist leader who looks out for Russia's interests. I do not think the Russians are anxious to see him go.
Personally I'm still uncertain about Putin, If I judge him only by his words he is one of the world's most rational, intelligent and clever leaders. If he is indeed a patriot I predict in time he will be viewed as one of Russia's greatest leaders.
Solzhenitsyn's full article deserves a read. I don't have any major disagreements with it.
www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,druck-496003,00...
And, Putin's performance at the G-8 is also worth the read:
www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17855.htm
and:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdI7cA06-M4&eurl=http://www.r...