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I find Gessen's characterization of Russia as totalitarian confusing. Totalitarianism in particular in the historical sense that Gessen uses when they draw para

I find Gessen's characterization of Russia as totalitarian confusing. Totalitarianism in particular in the historical sense that Gessen uses when they draw parallels to the 20th century requires complete popular mobilization. The people are united in society, society is united by rulers, the rulers all culminate in the singular dictator, and so forth. However Gessen correctly points out that loneliness and atomization is everywhere in Russia. It may be repressive, but there's hardly a level of energy, ideology or unification in Russia that could render it totalitarian. The same is true almost anywhere in the modern world. Nowhere are there going to be millions of brownshirts patrolling the streets for the party. I mean, even today you can argue with Russians on the internet, the country is still as weird as it may seem more liberal right now than it was during any point in the 20th century. There's state television and crazy commentators of course but the reason the war can continue if anything seems to be more indifference than zealous support. Russia today is a society that runs on fumes, and the grandiose predictions by Gessen like 'nuclear strikes on Poland', or breakups rest on comparisons to the high energy, combustive situation in 20th century Europe. Even characterizing the war as 'big and imperial' seems sketchy when it is downplayed as a special military operation, hidden from the people and being fought by a professional army and private military contractors in a fundamentally 21st century almost hybrid way.

panarky 5y ago
Is "mobilization" really the primary indicator of a totalitarian regime? I think the root word "total" might be more indicative. When most aspects of a citizen's life are dominated by the party or the state, and alternative or competing non-state institutions don't exist, that's totalitarian. Russia looks quite totalitarian according to that definition, with everything from local government to media, religion, business and cultural institutions tightly controlled by the the central clique of mafia-style oligarchs. Does any independent civil society exist in Russia?
- Barrin92 5y ago
  No there isn't much of a civil society but neither is every facet of live in Russia controlled by anyone. If you're an average Russian right now you work in the private sector in a job of your choosing, you have a faith of your choosing and go about your day, there's no party or state to be seen. (what 'party' even, as Russia isn't communist any more). Oligarchy and totalitarianism are opposed concepts. Russia is indeed pretty corrupt, oligarchic and mafia like, but that means there isn't that much state capacity left as private and public interests are divided and self-interested. Actual totalitarians first annihilate the oligarchs which siphon from the state. Stalin was totalitarian. Mao's red guards were totalitarian. No comparable force exists in modern Russia.
  - prmph 5y ago
    > you have a faith of your choosing Russia is currently persecuting religious minorities

panarky 5y ago

Is "mobilization" really the primary indicator of a totalitarian regime? I think the root word "total" might be more indicative. When most aspects of a citizen's life are dominated by the party or the state, and alternative or competing non-state institutions don't exist, that's totalitarian. Russia looks quite totalitarian according to that definition, with everything from local government to media, religion, business and cultural institutions tightly controlled by the the central clique of mafia-style oligarchs. Does any independent civil society exist in Russia?

Barrin92 5y ago
No there isn't much of a civil society but neither is every facet of live in Russia controlled by anyone. If you're an average Russian right now you work in the private sector in a job of your choosing, you have a faith of your choosing and go about your day, there's no party or state to be seen. (what 'party' even, as Russia isn't communist any more). Oligarchy and totalitarianism are opposed concepts. Russia is indeed pretty corrupt, oligarchic and mafia like, but that means there isn't that much state capacity left as private and public interests are divided and self-interested. Actual totalitarians first annihilate the oligarchs which siphon from the state. Stalin was totalitarian. Mao's red guards were totalitarian. No comparable force exists in modern Russia.
- prmph 5y ago
  > you have a faith of your choosing Russia is currently persecuting religious minorities