Russia is not unique.... -- Politics and Society in Russia and its Neighbors

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Date Posted: 16:28:35 02/13/02 Wed
Author: Nadia
Subject: Russia is not unique....

Prof. Boaz brought up some interesting thoughts on class today about how Russia is viewed in many international politics theories. The fact that Russia has endured some rough times over adn over again has more to do with its bad luck rather than Russian culture's "backwardness." I find it unbelieveable when I hear people talk about how much better things are in the West because in the West democracy is understood and respected. I really don't believe that Russia's past and current struggles have anything to do with not understandign democracy or not caring about civil liberties. Not all nations in th world share the same history, geography or economic status and so evaluating them shouldn't be that easy. It is important to remember that people are largely products of their environments. WHat happened in Russia with the revolution and the communists coming to power, could happen in many, many other parts of the world. Further much of the terror that went on under the regime could as well happen anywhere else. Let's remember that fear and desperation have always proven to be the best tools in getting support from the masses. People who are afraid, hungary and poor will follow anything in hopes of improving their life position. Large portions of Russians were poor and without hope of attaining anything in life until the Reds came along with the promise of a better future. One doesn't need to even look much further than Russia for this type of evidence. What happened in Germany between WWI and WWII is another example of how people will follow anyone who is remotely convincing in order to improve their lives. A nation's political and social climate play a huge role in what happens at a given time. Throw in propaganda with a ruler who is usually a demagouge and the stage is set for what may seem unlikely by some individuals. We don't need to look even beyond America's borders to see how people will in many cases follow and agree to things which are not exactly right. What is currently going on in the U.S. with the "war" on terrorism is a first class example of how people who feel frightened will allow for some liberties to be cut short or allow themselves to blindly follow a governemnt which obviously cannot be trusted. What is sadder in this case in America, is that people do not even have to be coerced to follow and agree. There are no tanks on the streets reminding people of what needs to be believed because for the most part not agreeing is not even an option. It is easier to blindly follow then to be burned by facts that would only prove how wrong what is going on is. So all in all I think it is extremely self-righteous and ethnocentric to say that what happens in some areas of the world is only due to people's backwardness or lack of appreciation for freedom.

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