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American brain is a prison. Modern Russia doesn't have an ideology. It does not stand for a big idea of any sort. They do not fight because of ideological diff

American brain is a prison. Modern Russia doesn't have an ideology. It does not stand for a big idea of any sort. They do not fight because of ideological differences. Reading into these beliefs is absolutely pointless. Russia is highly individualist, any ideology is a post-factum confabulation. They just ratuonalise whatever is their current situation. Ukrainians went fron bother-nation to nazis overnight. They fight for the same reason co oeting feudal lords fought

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cmrdporcupine 3y ago
Gangsterism is not individualism. Not sure I'd call that collectivism, either though. Ideologies are the series of justifications for an established -- or competing -- way of things. An attempt to describe what one wants/needs as a natural order of things. In the end, ideology comes from the stomach, not the brain, and nobody is without ideology. What we see is warring authoritarian parties working on an ideology of cynicism and might-makes-right. In an at-least-nominally democratic state, state legitimacy and conflicts between politico-economic interest groups are mediated by institutions generally respected by the population. In states lacking that, they are mediated by guns.
- ClumsyPilot 3y ago
  > Gangsterism is not individualism. Thats exactly how I would expect individualism to manifest itself in a lawless society. How would you expect to see individualism manifest itaelf in a lawless area?
  - cmrdporcupine 3y ago
    I think we're probably operating on different definitions of individualism. It does not much matter. FWIW I'm not American nor in this supposed American mindset prison. But I think it should be pretty clear this point which ideological-imperial-economic sphere is the better place for the average person to live in, though personally I'm a fan of neither. (What I do find fascinating is how easily certain sycophants in the western far right and useful idiots generally have fallen for an ideological line out of Russia, and how difficult it's turning out for them to see the evidence of Russia's failure...)
TeMPOraL 3y ago
So is the case with everyone, and so it was throughout history. Ideology alone doesn't last long when put against a threat to life or limb. Playing up historical identity or destiny or such is means of gathering political support - not the actual reason for leaders to start a war, nor for the soldiers to fight it. Conversely, describing your enemy as fighting for ideological reasons, is the means to deny any of the claims they actually have, sound or not, and a way to rally support against them.

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cmrdporcupine 3y ago

Gangsterism is not individualism. Not sure I'd call that collectivism, either though. Ideologies are the series of justifications for an established -- or competing -- way of things. An attempt to describe what one wants/needs as a natural order of things. In the end, ideology comes from the stomach, not the brain, and nobody is without ideology. What we see is warring authoritarian parties working on an ideology of cynicism and might-makes-right. In an at-least-nominally democratic state, state legitimacy and conflicts between politico-economic interest groups are mediated by institutions generally respected by the population. In states lacking that, they are mediated by guns.

ClumsyPilot 3y ago
> Gangsterism is not individualism. Thats exactly how I would expect individualism to manifest itself in a lawless society. How would you expect to see individualism manifest itaelf in a lawless area?
- cmrdporcupine 3y ago
  I think we're probably operating on different definitions of individualism. It does not much matter. FWIW I'm not American nor in this supposed American mindset prison. But I think it should be pretty clear this point which ideological-imperial-economic sphere is the better place for the average person to live in, though personally I'm a fan of neither. (What I do find fascinating is how easily certain sycophants in the western far right and useful idiots generally have fallen for an ideological line out of Russia, and how difficult it's turning out for them to see the evidence of Russia's failure...)

TeMPOraL 3y ago

So is the case with everyone, and so it was throughout history. Ideology alone doesn't last long when put against a threat to life or limb. Playing up historical identity or destiny or such is means of gathering political support - not the actual reason for leaders to start a war, nor for the soldiers to fight it. Conversely, describing your enemy as fighting for ideological reasons, is the means to deny any of the claims they actually have, sound or not, and a way to rally support against them.