@kravietz
That is precisely why I've been telling you that you should never let them apply anti-colonial agenda to Russia as is — they don't seem to realise that "priviledged" Russian man is just as disenfranchised in his own country as any member of a minority — unless he's a cop or a government official. Yep, there are ethnic minorities in Russia — and yes, their culture is often being erased, but this doesn't mean that most Russians ever benefited from it as serfdom pre-dates all that.
@notsoloud
Well, I think it makes sense to discuss every particular case separately, but I do think that Russian Empire was empire in name only — Peter the Great liked the idea being an emperor, that is why he slapped the word over without any underlying meaning. Were citizens of "metropole" ever benefitting from "colonies" — no, most of them weren't even citizens legally.
@notsoloud
I can only recall one period from Russian history when just being Russian granted you any privileges — right after the fall of Kazan, over Tatars.
Otherwise political and social system in Russia predates that of nation states (I think using the word "nationalism" to describe anything happening in Russia is misusing the term) and even empires. So what is it then? I think it's something from earlier ages — feudalism!
@notsoloud
A good example of this is the news from two weeks ago: Pooteen have written off 20 billions (!) of debts of African states. To a left-leaning western person it might even seem that Russia is anti-colonial, but let's look at this closely: would most people in these African countries get any of that? I seriously doubt that, this money was taken from Russians by Pooteen and given to the groups in power in these African countries — he's buying himself vassals in Africa.
@notsoloud
Neither colonial, nor anti-colonial fits Russia, but feudal — these describes the nature of processes perfectly.
This also explains why Russia can maintain ties to other autocratic states, but can't tolerate democracies — because that is unacceptable in feudal system: serfs weren't allowed to choose their lords. Russia itself is becoming a vassal state of China — this also works in feudal system.
@notsoloud
There's no need to go for any higher-level concepts — for Russia it's middle ages all over again.
Even USSR wasn't much different — I have a long post in which I elaborate on that, but it's on my instance, which is currently under heavy load, I don't think you would be able to access it, I can send you a link later.
@m0xee
Wow, thanks, that's very interesting! Feel free to send a link 😃
For me one interesting part of Russian feudalism has been the concept of service nobility compared to the land holding nobility more common in Western Europe. Seems to match the current oligarchs, as far as I can tell (not that I know that much)
@kravietz