The relationship between Russia and the West is characterized by a fundamental clash of values and realities. While Russia’s actions often surprise people in the West, it is important to recognize that this is due in part to the language barrier that rarely gets discussed.
For example, Russia’s war against Ukraine was mentally prepared and justified for years on its state television, with propaganda painting a picture of a fascist junta in Kiev and threats of nuclear strikes against Western cities. In contrast, Western analysis of Russia often focuses on symbolic interpretations and Kremlin astrology, rather than deep knowledge and understanding of the country.
Before his presidency, Putin was involved in a complex network of state, business, mafia, and secret service connections in St. Petersburg. Organized corruption has deep roots in Russia’s history, exploiting the shortcomings of the centrally planned economy. Putin’s actions, including keeping world leaders waiting at meetings, are seen as exercises of power that signal Russia’s importance in the international arena. However, Russia’s mafia state operates under a veneer of legality, with important decisions made in informal agreements behind closed doors.
The goal of Putin’s Russia is to enforce the rule of brute force and mafia culture on a global scale, using war as a tool to achieve geopolitical and demographic objectives. Understanding the complexities of Russia requires a deeper understanding of its history, culture, and motivations. Therefore, traditional strategic analyses fall short when dealing with a state driven by unbounded violence and a desire for maximum destruction.
Putin’s expansionist ambitions are fueled by a sense of insecurity and a desire to reclaim its historical role as the “gendarme of Europe.” In dealing with such an aggressive actor like Putin’s Russia
