Russia's Schizophrenic Identity and Its Imperialist Hypocrisy

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Russia often accuses other countries of the very vices and extreme ideologies it harbors, projecting these onto Ukraine and the West with a blend of anger, xenophobia, and military aggression. This complex and contradictory nature of Russia can be likened to a schizophrenic state, deeply rooted in an identity crisis and an inferiority complex regarding the West. President Vladimir Putin encapsulates this by asserting that Russia is not just a nation-state but a borderless civilization.

 

This notion of a borderless civilization creates confusion even among Russians about what constitutes their country. During the Soviet era, the identities of Soviet and Russian were intertwined, leading Putin to refer to the USSR as "Historic Russia." Many Russians share his view that the disintegration of the Soviet Union was the most significant disaster of the 20th century.

 

Russian imperial nationalists have various visions of what Russia should be: the Tsarist Empire, the Soviet Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Eurasia, Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s union of three eastern Slavs, or Putin’s Russian World. These diverse definitions have facilitated alliances between the extreme left and right, evidenced by violent coups in 1991 and 1993. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russians gravitated towards imperial nationalism rather than liberal democracy.

 

This identity crisis is highlighted by the confusion surrounding June 12, celebrated as Independence Day, despite the Russian Republic never declaring independence from the USSR. The day is based on the declaration of sovereignty in 1990 and was renamed Russia Day in 2002. This contrasts sharply with Ukraine, which declared sovereignty in July 1990, independence in August 1991, and held presidential elections and a referendum in December 1991, securing overwhelming support.

 

Ukraine’s identity has been consistently recognized, even within the USSR, where it had its own republic and language, and was a founding member of the UN. Yet, the Kremlin justifies its invasion of Ukraine by claiming that Ukrainians have been misled by Western intelligence into believing they are distinct from Russians. This imperialist hypocrisy is evident when Russia denounces Ukrainians as fascists and Nazis. Russia itself, as noted by Timothy Snyder, operates as a schizo-fascist state, accusing Ukraine and the West of extreme right ideologies while embodying those very traits.

 

The term "Ruscism," combining Russian and fascism, captures this contradictory stance. Snyder describes it as fascists calling others fascists, representing an extreme form of unreason and propaganda where reality is inverted. This is reflected in Russia's support for various extremist groups while portraying the liberal West as Nazi.

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov exemplified this hypocrisy by claiming that Ukraine could still be Nazi despite having a Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, citing false and anti-Semitic historical claims. Russia alleges that extreme nationalism and Russophobia dominate Ukraine and that its military actions aim to prevent the genocide of Russian speakers. However, extreme-right nationalist parties in Ukraine receive less support than in many European countries, and surveys show that Russian speakers in Ukraine did not feel persecuted.

 

Drawing on Soviet-era anti-colonialist rhetoric, the Kremlin positions itself as defending the Global Majority against Western imperialism. This narrative obscures the brutal reality of Russian colonialism and its genocidal actions, as highlighted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE. The OSCE recently declared that decolonization of the Russian Federation is essential for sustainable peace and condemned Russia’s genocidal policies in Ukraine.

 

In conclusion, Russia's identity crisis and imperialist hypocrisy create a nation that projects its vices onto others while struggling with its own contradictions. The Kremlin's actions and rhetoric reveal a deep-seated confusion and a desperate attempt to justify its aggressive and oppressive policies, both domestically and internationally.

 

Credit: CEPA 2024-07-24

 

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[mfd101]

Yes, good stuff. Worth a read.

[cncltd1973]

not sure what the laughing emojis are about. do some members not agree with the post?