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> "Russia lost pretty much everything" This is not just about territorial loss. In the aftermath of the Soviet Union's fall, during the transition to a market
by Georgelemental 4y ago
> "Russia lost pretty much everything"
This is not just about territorial loss. In the aftermath of the Soviet Union's fall, during the transition to a market economy, the oligarchs basically looted all of Russia's wealth by taking control of the old Soviet SOEs. It was a truly terrible time for a lot of ordinary people.
And Putin is the one who brought the oligarchs under control. So it's natural that he and much of the Russian people see him as the strong man who can pull Russia out of the 90s disaster and restore Russia to the glory it deserves. That's part of the mindset driving the present war, I think
- sorokod 4y agoThey are still looting and I'd say it's not so clear cut who is controlling whom nowdays. Glory is off course in the eye of beholder and the desire to be glorious is definitely at the root of this war.
- Georgelemental 4y agoNah, Putin's hold over the oligarchs is stronger than ever, now that they can't invest abroad anymore due to sanctions. Putin loves to bring this up in his speeches, arguing that getting burned by sanctions was the predictable consequense of engaging with those traitorous Westerners and that clearly the oligarchs should have invested in the Glorious Fatherland instead
- sorokod 4y agoThat is just PR. The thing with oligarchs is that the loot and power they hold is considered to be some sort of escrow to be used by the power structure as it sees fit. Those who forget it, die or go to prison.
- Georgelemental 4y agoExactly. Putin and his power structure are the ones with all the power, if they can kill or imprison any oligarch who steps out of line. They control the relationship