Russia’s idea is now Putin’s
Idealism is often an admirable trait when a person or business is fighting for a good thing, an idea. However, what is a good reason is something subjective and can be assessed differently. Movements with high ideals have shown that they are anything but good when ideals are implemented. Even communism and fascism thought they represented high ideals.
Escalation at Ukraine’s borders raises feelings and many questions about motives. Why is Russia threatening a large-scale war? The most common interpretations we hear refer to domains of power, buffer zones, fears of a democratic neighbor, and ghost pains of superpower.
Maybe it might upset some if I ask a question, though: Is it Vladimir Putin‘s military preparations and threatening rhetoric were really based on romantic idealism? With addition: misaligned. There have been many analyzes of Vladimir Putin’s path from a KGB Czech and secret agent to a head of state with increasingly uncontrollable power. Some of these analyzes stand on my bookshelf, about which I have read reviews.
Many of these documents refer to Putin’s interest in Russian history and its figures, emperors, soldiers, philosophers, and historians. Dimitri PeskovPutin ‘s long – time, active spokesman and propagandist, said in 2011: “Putin always reads Russian history. He reads memoirs of historic Russian heads of state. Putin is not alone here; many other Russian leaders have sought inspiration for the story of” eternal Russia “and its exceptional mission.
Where have Putin’s historical investigations led? Well, in a long article published in July 2021. It is a threatening and aggressive documentary in which history is written and interpreted in such a way that Ukraine looks like an artificial creation without a historical basis. It can be called an experiment of historical idealism, where all the facts claim that Ukraine and its Slavs are and must be part of the Russian sphere. Anything to the contrary can be seen as an anti-Russian provocation.
Putin’s latest appeal does not cover up his goal: “I am convinced that real sovereignty over Ukraine is only possible in cooperation with Russia.” This seems almost generous, as he has previously stated that much of what is now Ukraine does not belong to the country at all, referring not to Crimea and Donetsk-Luhansk to larger parts of the country. In fact, the text must be seen as a declaration of war against present-day Ukraine, the majority of its people and its elected leadership. All that is needed for Putin is a change of government. Ukraine must be included in Russia’s interests politically, economically and culturally. If not of your choice, then …
If Putin’s ideological sources are to be traced, one will end up with the great Russian philosophers of the 19th century who laid the foundation for Russia’s state doctrine, the Russian idea. Orthodoxy, autocracy and people were its cornerstones. There were strong Slavophilic elements that Finland also experienced at the turn of the century. Slavic philosophy, the idea of the unity of the Slavic peoples, is a central part of Putin’s appeal: there are Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians, but they are still the same people united by history, religion and blood.
One of Putin’s revealing arguments is that if the US, Canada, Germany and Austria can agree on cross-border cooperation, then why not Russia and Ukraine? He forgets that the former group of states shares democratic values, while the latter two have drifted apart.
Aggressive nationalist idealism leads to conflict, especially when the right of nation states to outline their own path is openly questioned. Moreover, while other motives are clearly part of the calculations, it is a matter of gross chauvinism and a misguided and destructive form of idealism.
The idea of Russia is on its march.
Pär Stenbäck is a minister
Translation Daniel Westö
This is the opinion view “View”. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Helsinki Times. This column has not been revised and HT is not responsible for any inaccurate or misleading statements in this article.