I came across the results of a poll from two weeks ago about what Russian citizens are proud of:
Virtually everything there is to be proud of was not created by us and does not depend on us: history, natural resources, and the sheer size of the country.
What we should have turned into sources of pride—and easily could have, with trillions of petrodollars seemingly falling from the sky—has instead become more a source of shame.
Neither education, nor healthcare, nor economic success. And we are not especially proud even of ourselves—our fellow citizens.
So it should come as no surprise that the results of the Great Patriotic War (the Soviet term for the Eastern Front of World War II) are talked about more now, in 2016, than they were in 1960, and that Victory Day parades are celebrated far more lavishly than they were when millions of veterans were still alive.
What else does Putin, after 17 years in power, have to present? Only all this: we have enormous wealth, and others want to take it away; we have a glorious history, and others want to rewrite it.
A well-known joke can easily be updated to bring it fully into line with the polling data:
- What are the main achievements of Putin’s 17 years in power?
- He defeated Hitler, annexed Siberia, sent Gagarin into space, taught Plisetskaya ballet, and suggested Pushkin’s first rhymes to him.
Tags