The only escalation I've seen in the past year is 1) the russian invasion of Ukraine, 2) the russian attacks on civilians and civilian targets, 3) the russian attacks on infrastructure. I view all arms shipments to Ukraine as a modest response to the daily war crimes committed by Russia primarily against Ukraine and somewhat against their own population.

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

Escalation is 100% on Putin. I agree - what Ukrainians are doing is defensive, not escalatory

@Asptuber

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. This framing needs wider circulation.

@afterthesmash

Жыл бұрын

The Russians count the Ukrainian attack on the Kerch bridge as an escalatory attack on Russian infrastructure. No doubt they speak much the same way about Finland joining NATO. They have also complained about the West conducted endless rounds of covert and semi-covert military training of Ukrainian troops. Is this direct Western manpower support? Not on the field of battle itself, but it's coming close. You don't understand the true nature of escalation at all if you think only one side considers itself to have a valid list.

@lafa1432

Жыл бұрын

@Allan Stokes The Russians also say this was not a war but a special military operation, that they should and do control the news operation, that destroying the electric grid is a legitimate target, that killing civilians is their prerogative, that looting civilian homes is ok, that bringing in long term convicted criminals to fight is fine, etc. Now they're crying from a little pushback. Damaging the Kerch bridge was never really linked to Ukraine but when Ukraine gets around to destroying it is not an escalation against these invading war criminals. Training Ukrainians to defend themselves is not an escalation. Destroying russian ships, ports, aircraft and airports that have been used to target Ukraine is not an escalation. Killing or pushing the orcs out of Ukraine (obviously including Crimea) is not an escalation. If Ukraine obtains and uses phosphorus bombs and cluster bombs, not an escalation. Destroying ryssian power grid, oil and gS pipelines, water supplies is not an escalation. Bombing russian cities is not an escalation. Foreign troops invited by Ukraine, fighting in Ukraine is not an escalation. Russia needs to get out of Ukraine and pay more attention to their own population instead of stealing toilets and washing machines from their neighbors. The only debatable issue here is how much h and how quickly should Russia pay reparations to Ukraine.

@mikefallwell1301

Жыл бұрын

@@afterthesmash the Europeans who opened the door to trade with Russia started this escalation and need to acknowledge their culpability

Thanks for inviting Ms McGlynn to share her thoughts and insights with us. I constantly think about why so many Russians seem to support Putin's actions despite all the horror and negative consequences of the war. This discussion helps, but it's still hard to empathise with them, because they seem to be willfully in denial.

@andyhurrell

Жыл бұрын

You say that Putin’s many supporters seem to be wilfully in denial. ‘Wilful’ implies an intention to do harm - in this case to oneself as well as to others. I have wondered what the true nature of the Putin-supporters’ belief is. It seems to me that it’s akin to a religious ‘belief’. From my perspective (as an apostate Christian agnostic with a strong leaning toward atheism) it seems to me that most people who subscribe to the main religious orthodoxies are also in a state of denial. True, most religious adherents were brainwashed during their formative years (as I was) so it could be argued that it’s not their fault that they had their heads filled with palpable nonsense. But if a mature person chooses not to question what they were taught in childhood then, surely, are they not complicit in their own delusion? Yet, the acceptance of doctrines which are obviously false (or, at least, cannot be substantiated by any evidence) (faith?) is widespread. Historically, people have been willing to kill for their ‘beliefs’ and indeed, have been willing to die for them. It seems to me that the crackpot Soviet mindset which lingers on in a high proportion of the Russian population is similar to a religious belief. Off-the-cuff, I can think of four similarities. Firstly, an adherent’s beliefs don’t make sense to a non-believer. Secondly, an adherent is unable to offer any evidence-based argument which demonstrates that their religion has a factual basis.Thirdly, adherents have usually been coerced into adopting a whole raft of reflexive mental responses by a powerful ruling body which often uses fear as the main motivator. Fourthly, adherents could choose to question the rubbish that was/is imposed on them, but they often/usually don’t. I wonder, assuming that religious belief was outlawed by the Soviets, whether the Putinist mindset is a religion-substitute which filled the vacuum. All religions started somewhere, sometime. Perhaps the one we see flourishing in the Russian Federation began with the formation of the KGB. The Soviets banned orthodox worship and replaced it with the equally bonkers Russia-worship. Deliberately or accidentally? Slava Ukraine!

@oldernu1250

Жыл бұрын

Russians prefer historical myths to self examination. It has been destribed as an oriental societal characteristic. But that's politically incorrect now. Still, only 150 years ago, most Russians were illiterate, as my grandparents.

41:12 “The opening of the state archives and the disturbing and unwelcome revelations about Soviet people, first of all Soviet heroes, or concealed crimes… proved overwhelming for lots of people.” - Jade McGlynn (The opening of the state archives is mentioned by a lot of academics in my journey to learn what this is all about.)

An unfortunate consequence of Russia's war is that many of us now know more than we wanted to about Russian propaganda and politics. Sometimes I feel guilty trying to understand 'Russian problems'. The carnage Russians are inflicting on Ukraine makes me want to discard the nuance. Their evil absurdity has become entertainment and that is sad. Thanks for another great podcast.

@velvetmagnetta3074

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, it's like a freaking parody of itself.

@rabbott-ee4yu

4 ай бұрын

The USSR was a mighty empire once, that lost the cold war in a humiliating manner (they went bankrupt, lost identity and standing internationally !). In the 1990s, Russia suffered another humiliating period of poverty and corruption when communism failed. Russia, then failed to adapt to the Western economic and political models due to their leaders intransigence. They later failed to meet requirement to join NATO, and failed again while trying to join the EU. Russias political ideology was rejected by 95% of the world, who had moved on from autocratic dictatorships to more evolved systems of governance. When you consider it as a whole, that's a lot of "own goals" that Russia falsely sees as rejection of everything Russian, that's lead to Russia developing a national inferiority complex, that's bruised Putin's ego. Now add Ukraine to the mix! UKRAINE, to Russian's was a “popular little Brother” and when Ukraine embarked on a path to westernization, including EU and NATO membership, where greater prosperity, freedom and individuality was possible, it was frowned apon by "the less popular big brother" Russia. In the West, it's a natural progression when a country is “mature” enough to become an independent sovereign state, to decide to become a lawful, free-market democracy. (when "little brother" is ready to leave home and fend for himself! ) BUT for Russia, which has failed on that path several times itself, this aspiration by Ukraine became an imagined humiliation to the family and was looked on as a total rejection of the Russian political model, their philosophies and morality. Essentially, by choosing West over East, Ukraine was believed to be telling Russia that they don't need their "big brother" any more and that’s hard to take from a country seen as a “little brother”, when the "big brother" has an inferiority complex. So Russia fabricated rationalizations to keep Ukraine in the family, that gradually, when Ukraine rejected Russia's reasoning, were used to justify an attitude readjustment of "little brother" (invasion) to try to straighten them out and make them stay loyal to Russia's family. The programming of the Russian people started early in 2013 with rumours of Ukraine joining NATO, saying NATO was anti-russian and that it would be dangerous to have NATO, a purely defensive organisation, that had never threatened Russia, “too close to Moscow” on Russia's borders (conveniently forgetting Estonia, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia, etc were already on Russia's borders and had been so, peacefully, for 20 years) The Russian people were told Russia could not permit Nuclear weapons on their borders even though Ukraine had been rejected by NATO in 2017, so Ukraine arming with Nuclear weapons was never going to happen. More misinformation followed, with messages that “Westernization” of Ukraine was really a CIA campaign. That Ukraine was a nazi country, full of Nazis, lead by a Nazis (forgetting to mention that Zalensky's is Jewish, and that the far right got less than 2% in Ukraines election, gaining no seats in local or national government) Russias media repeatedly told the Russian people that Ukraine planned to attack Russia. That Ukraine was producing anti-slavic viruses. That Ukraine was committing genocide in the Donbas, etc. All misinformation constructed to brainwash the Russian people to gain support for the up coming "special military operation" AKA, Russian Ukraine war. Russia's TV channels incessantly and casually delivered their propaganda over the years slowly brainwashing the population, while most recently their stooges screamed about their nukes; screaming how they could vaporise countries at their leisure, screaming how easy it would be to obliterate London, Paris, Berlin, etc! Actions you don’t see on TV in the US, or France, or UK, or Israel or China or any rational thinking country for that matter, where they are secure in their national identity. But in Russia they are overcompensating for feeling inferior, so screaming “we have nukes” "we can Nuke you" "it's all the west's fault" helps to assuage that inferiority complex. Russia is now seen as a corrupt, almost destitute, desperate “GAS STATION WITH NUTS AND NUKES ” with few friends and a reputation to lie a lot, that means many countries don't trust them anymore. In simple terms, Russia has a fired up national inferiority complex, fanned by Putin's paranoia, which in turn fuels Russia's disgusting anti-social behavior at the country and international level.

@paulmicks7097

4 ай бұрын

LOL, seems some prefer sleep and delusion

Glory to the heroes and all who fight for Ukraine. Australia stands with the people and brave warriors of Ukraine. Victory will be yours. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦💪🏻🇦🇺

@Aussie-Mocha

Жыл бұрын

🎉😎🇦🇺 🇺🇦✊🏻🇺🇦 This chat left me with more questions about Russian political influence in the 1990s !!

@simonargall5508

Жыл бұрын

Yep

@oldernu1250

Жыл бұрын

Met some Russians when in Oz. Cunning brutish thugs.

We are led to believe that it will take months for training in these tanks and further down the road fighter aircraft, but that is of course what is put out in public. We have little knowledge of what is happening behind the scenes. But we can be pretty sure all the training has been going on on all these weapons has indeed being going on for several months already. Dr. Jade McGlynn is a pleasure to listen to, thank you for a great talk.

@actionflower6706

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, it’s like that Gulf War amphibious landing. I very much hope, like you, that their might be various maskirovka things abroad in the press. I devoutly hope for disastrous surprises befalling Moscow…about which they will complain “ they Lied to us!”. Sauce for goose and gander etc.

@nadiasawicki4108

4 ай бұрын

O​@@actionflower6706

What a great interview, one thing I LOVE about your interviewing style is how you listen without interrupting, then ask follow-up questions that really add so much.

@velvetmagnetta3074

Жыл бұрын

Yes! He listens intently and asks very thoughtful follow-up questions - it's a joy to watch!

Jade McGlynn is a remarkably intelligent speaker. Excellent guest!!

Coincidentally I just watched Zack the Russian's video on Solovyov of Russia 1 TV and it said that he'd been constantly talking about Ukraine since 2014, so much so that people wondered why. If true it suggests that they always planned more and layed foundational propaganda groundwork down. The irony was he showed a 2008 Solovyov explaining to an audience question that the RF had no legal basis to regain Crimea, that it had been Crimean Tatar and Kruschev's transfer (of the autonomous republic) was legal. Given the repression I have presumed that those asked in surveys mostly give safe answers, intercepted calls show cynicism, though of course some want to believe in what they see on TV.

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

Yes, I’ve seen that video too. The entire regime and it’s minions are utterly cynical. To them its all political‘technology’… I also have no doubt they’ve been planning this for years, and it was delayed by covid…

@velvetmagnetta3074

Жыл бұрын

But that would have been the perfect time, right? Trump was in office, he was resistant to helping Ukraine, Manafort - Yanukovich's election "advisor" - was very close to Trump's inner circle (until he was charged and convicted by the Meuller team), Trump was making noises about "Why do we need NATO anymore?", etc., etc... Conditions were ripe! Putin had to know Trump had a 50/50 chance of not being re-elected... I guess my question is - If Putin was going to gamble and risk throwing everything away to make a play for Ukraine, why didn't he do it when he had the perfect useful idiot in the highest office in the United States, the one country most able to make or break the alliance and help Ukraine deter a Russian invasion?

@MikeOxlong-

Жыл бұрын

To be completely honest (without trying to be too conspiratorial), a lot of this was set in motion around the time that Putin started appearing in Yeltsin’s entourage… In fact, there were ruSSian political figures making remarks about Ukraine not long after Putin had finalized the retaking of the airwaves, and the centralizing and authorizing of news through the kremlin (this going back to the 2002-2003 era). Then, if you really want to hear how well known the gruesome details of this past year’s invasion were to be and that they were well known in advance (from all the disgusting talking points about Ukraine and Ukrainians, right down to the forced mobilization of the LNR&DNR stooges against their own), one only needs to look to one of the Soviet Unions (and then ruSSia’s) most widely known and vocal public critics and opponents (a woman with a widely known 40+ year history of battling the state and those in the kremlin) whose name is Valeria Novodvorskaya. She passed away not long after recording and then uploading the original version of her statement to the socials (including KZread) back in 2014, after the initial invasions in both Crimea and eastern Ukraine (with of course the annexation of Crimea as well)… There are a few copies of her video still to be found here (along with many other of her and about her), but the one you want to watch is from 2014. It was recorded on what appears to be an old vhs camcorder and she is wearing a yellow sweater. To find the video you only need to search for her name, but be aware the full video is 13 and a half minutes long, and you’ll pass by a couple 4 and a half minute copies of her video as you look for it. Those are cutoff before getting into the really nasty details (and are only a few months old). The original 8 year old video is on a channel with a name that starts with Europe-something, or euromaiden-something… The title says that it’s the last video by her, which it was… It’s in Russian but has captioning. I’m shocked not many people seem to know about this one, as it really should be front and Center and plastered over every news channel across the globe to be honest…

@RobBCactive

Жыл бұрын

@@velvetmagnetta3074 many believe Covid19 delayed the force build up. Then Trump was destabilising the USA and the NATO alliance. The right wing have many sympathisers with Putin's values, people who might betray a Democrat president. If Vladolf Pootin hadn't waited, like 🤡 Bojo 🤡, Trump would have to over compensate (in an election year) should public opinion demand action. Threatened he lashes out. There's also factors like restricting gas supply to Germany and the Baltic region, pushing up prices and restoring finances after the 2020 temporary collapse in oil demand. The US/EU/UK and NATO were supposed to be ineffectual and discredited in the face of a fait acompli. So wasn't it better to hope Trump would finish the job for Putin, keep buttering him up and then build up forces while pressuring an unpopular and isolated Zelenskyy?

@larsrons7937

Жыл бұрын

@@SiliconCurtain In hindsight I sometimes wish Covid had been going on for longer. Because Putin's long tables grew ever longer as Covid dragged on. Had those tables grown much longer Putin would have ended up in Ukraine himself. He might even have stayed, though with a T.E.F. _(Terminal Existence Failure)_

Great interview, thanks to Dr. Jade for valuable insight. One problem with understanding historical memory as a manipulator of human behaviour is the absence of real chronological equivalence. Ie 2023 in UK is not 2023 in Russia. I think that the way to understand Russia is to imagine that you are a member of the ruling class in any one of a number of European monarchies of the 17 th or 18 th centuries, or even earlier. Russia's behaviour would probably be understandable, even acceptable. Russian thinking has been atrophied by absense of freedom because autocracy, and the enevitable repression and manipulation has been essentially continuous. Russia was already backward, with only late abandonment of serfdom. The underlying ideology, ie, Heredity, Social (communism), Religious, Kleptocratic, has changed or intermixed but autocracy has continued, together with it's messages, and slogans, of self perpetuation. It's no wonder that Russians still have the myths they have, and worse, the rulers believe them as well, and may not realize that they are just the thread that the state/rulers/elites/autocrats have used to sew their population together, for centuries, to prevent it coming apart at the seams. If Russia can stay together it will become another North Korea. It's not a bright future for any of us.

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

I’ve said in some videos that to understand Russian politics you need to reference Shakespeare’s Macbeth… or Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, rather than any 21st understanding of it… pretty much what you’re suggesting!

@ntlineman

4 ай бұрын

Well said!

WW2 never ended in the psychology of the Russians and thier precious rhodina. They have themselves a shithouse positive feedback loop now which only predicates more of the same. Thanks for the viewpoints. Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦

About training. Ukrainians started training on these tanks i.e. Leopards in Poland in August 2022.

Good to know that there are well informed people in the West able to explain the East. They are now very much needed.

Another really high quality interview. A lot of commentators have touched on the historical context of this invasion, but this is the most considered I have heard so far.

@garymorrison4675

Жыл бұрын

Yep agree.

@Mike O Thank you for recommending the Novodvorskya video. It was both beautiful and terrifying, forecasting everything, warning the people in Donbas how they would just be used for the larger goal of capturing first the coast of the black sea, then the rest of Ukraine. Please make a separate post in the comment sections about her, I think more people will notice it !

Wonderful interview, my thanks to Dr Jade McGlynn. I was quite surprised by her admission she couldn't live in Russia anymore due to the lies in Russian media, and the (passive?) Russian culture not dealing with it - either unable or unwilling. Enjoyed this, gained some new insights.👍

I'll have to think about this. Just a challenging talk which I loved. Thank you. The parallels between Russian mythologising and ours in the West is unexpected but perfectly clear on reflection. The difference is that maybe we are slowly challenging or own view of the past but the Russians clearly aren't. A wonderful conversation, thank you.

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

Yes, I think so. All countries have myths… but are they challenging them, and do they base foreign policy on them… there are some key distinctions between Russia and other countries…

Russia is not at war with the West. In WWII the USA supplied lots of weapons and material to countries at war with Germany. It didn't enter the war until it was attacked by Japan. One can clearly see the difference between fighting countries being supplied by the US and actually fighting the US.

Really very insightful and enlightening. Thank you for inviting Mrs McGlynn and make me discover her. For me this was the best podcast to help me understand the Russian mentality.

"Do not underestimate peoples' ability to forget", - a fave quotation of Hitler in Putin's quotations portfolio.

What an interesting and invigorating guest you chose with Jane McGlynn. Since very early in the war I have often watched Jane McGlynn in interviews, analysing or commenting. She has an extraordinary good understanding of what goes on inside the Russians, as "people" as well as "a people", and why they think and perceive the world as they do (like different poeple have their own way of doing). It was refreshing and educative going more into details today. Important and interesting topic, and a great guest. Cheers!

15:03 “I think it’s important that we start to quite understand rather than just personalize it all in one admittedly very evil man and pretend that he’s just the issue because he’s not.” - Jade McGlynn

Completely off topic but Jade is absolutely stunning.

@briseboy

Жыл бұрын

Is it redundant to claim being stunned while entering an off-topic comment? Or merely recursive?

@SynapseDriven

Жыл бұрын

@@briseboy A little of both I'm afraid...

Basically a nation will blame any n everyone other than itself and it’s leaders

One important difference between Ukraine and Russia that is not often mentioned is civil society. Where the civil society in Ukraine is exceptionally strong, the civil society of Russia seems to be almost completely absent. The individuals seem connected to the state only.

@dmitryletov8138

6 ай бұрын

😂 that is why Russians have hundred of friends... The societies are almost the same. You are just delusional

The Soviet Union was as colonialist in Africa as it was in Poland or Estonia. If not more. Just look up the Derg regime in Ethiopia, MPLA in Angola, FRELIMO in Mozambique, ZANU (Robert Mugabe) in Zimbabwe. All sponsored by the Soviet Unio. All brought war and economic collapse to their countries. The same thing happened in all the places in Asia Soviet Union and People's Republic if China got their hands on. And in Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela.

@jamesgarner327

Жыл бұрын

ZANU was maoist not marxist-léninist

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

Totally agree. The only reason Russia did not fully participate in 19th overseas colonialism, is that they didn’t have the technology, organisation or logistics to project that much power…

@jamesgarner327

Жыл бұрын

@@SiliconCurtain Let's not forget they already had their hands full with central Asia and the Caucasus, they had plans in East Africa, (Ethiopia been orthodoxe and all), they actually had an attempt at seizing Djibouti but the french pushed them out.

“The Russians thought the Americans were as cynical as are and the Americans couldn’t understand that the Russians were always lying” - Julia Loffe ( from PBS interview) I immediately thought she would be a perfect guest for the show.

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

She’s been on my ‘hit list’ from the start… very difficult to reach though!

@steve-real

Жыл бұрын

@@SiliconCurtain You are one of the best interviewers on Russia so far. I thought to myself what a perfect match up. Jonathan you’re as fascinating as she is on the subject of Russia and eastern Europe. Dr Timothy Snyder from Yale University is another perfect matchup. oh i did a typo on that quote. but i’m not going to fix it) “The Russians thought the Americans were as cynical as they are and the Americans couldn’t understand that the Russians were always lying”

@arnoldhau1

3 ай бұрын

Very hard to imagine to be more cynical than Americans...

I think all of the Western countries are working behind the scenes negotiating to get the most weapons to Ukraine in a reasonable amount of time and do it in a more equitable way. The whole world has a lot riding on the outcome of this war. I'm grateful that most of the world has come together to back Ukraine. Slava Ukraine! You're such a heroic country and population!

Thank you very much for this excellent (albeit grim and depressing) interview. I've interacted with russians a lot in the past and, sadly, most of my interactions have eventually turned out to be disappointing to say the least. Russia is a truly evil entity and must be stopped or at least contained at all costs.

@barbarcreighton6726

Жыл бұрын

same here - disappointing how the Russians were returning to the mindset , (almost medieval ) the chauvinisms and the simple generalisations : " aah - don't pay any attention , she is just a xoxla " ....... when I was often there 1995-2015

Very informative. Thank you both!

Thank you for that fascinating conversation. And also thanks to Prof Timothy Snyder for providing me with enough history of the making of Ukraine that I was able to understand the references made.

👍. Merci pour vos emissions. Cela fait du bien d entendre des gens échanger, réfléchir voire douter AVEC intelligence. "Il reste encore des humains avec un cerveau. !"

Great interview ❤ thank you both

I also listen to your interviews so I can fall back asleep. The soporific voice of yours, the cadenced conversations, the great content is perfect for me to engage my attention enough to doze off to. I end up listening so many times. In the car to learn, in bed to sleep. Thank you.

Very good. Thank you for your effort. Jade McGlynn is always worth listening to.

This is the best source I have found yet for understanding the Russian perspective of the Ukraine war. I have to admit I was sceptical at the start when Jade began promoting her books but I was won over by the wide ranging scope of her analysis, which she presents in a way which is well thought out and really explained the role of propaganda as a weapon of social control. You can see why she is so highly regarded, because she stands back and tries to understand the whole picture, which is a great relief I think one area you might explore further is how to try and work towards peace between the West and Russia. I don’t mean appeasement, rather I mean, we in the West need to have a much greater understanding that the way Jade describes propaganda working in Russia is the same as it works in the West. If you are not white in the West there are many reasons to live in fear of Western authorities. We have really to make more effort and be more willing to understand that the concept of the “good fight” or the “good war” is problematic. What’s happened is that the West and Russia are becoming embroiled in a conflict in Ukraine in which both sides are pouring in so many resources that neither can afford to back down. When war becomes a matter of “honour” (self worth) it is fought until both sides are in ruin. The fight is causing devastation in poor countries around the world who we have already been letting down.

@topiasr628

Жыл бұрын

Well said

@paulzx5034

11 ай бұрын

Hi from Russia. No good news for you. You must understand we jump on global hegemon and put everything at stake not because Putin wake up one day in the bad mood and decide to invade Ukraine just to have some fun. Endgame is kicking US out of Europe (out of Eurasia, actually, but Europe is our part of job) and more or less turn Europe in our protectorate. We came to conclusion we cannot rely on any kind of agreement with you. So no paperwork, only land and blood. Our experts talk about at least 10 years of conflict, with 15 years more likely, to reach our goals. --- In the end, theres no sense to discuss who wrong who right after the first shots fired. Now fight or surrender

Oh wow! What a lot to think about after listening to that. The way in which it pulled together all sorts of things you knew or had known about Russia and the USSR into some kind of coherence was very powerful.

Great talk! Thank you and Dr. McGlyn for a very profound and correct reading of the events! just one remark or addition: nostalgia is exactly that - "the past as a future" and russians' nostalgia is being rekindled and echoed and augmented constantly by the propaganda; the propandists rely exactly on it, i dont know which was first, but propagadnists including Putin himself use it very skilfully

Another fantastic interview Jonathan. Thank you getting such fascinating and insightful guests!

It's important to see that the people who normally would always push for peace support helping Ukraine. This says a lot. Conversely the more right wing aggressive people and organisations are suddenly calling for negotiations.

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

Fortunately there are many right wing individuals who are unambiguously pro Ukrainian. But I agree - clamouring for negotiations is a form of appeasement or even collaboration with the enemy…

@rationalactor

Жыл бұрын

Yes, interesting indeed. Perhaps the right wing people and organisations are under the heavy influence of RF soft warfare.

@stephenhill545

4 ай бұрын

An ethical question.

One of the most intelligent discussions of Russia I've heard, and a very quotable guest. "Is Russia's invasion of Ukraine about territory and resources?" The opening question was not I think answered, but the invasion is surely also about territory & resources.

Perhaps the only example in history where a declining country - one that doesn’t need ‘lebensraum’ - starting a war of conquest…..it makes zero sense…

Fantastic interview. 🙏 from Nova Scotia

What a delightful mix of insight, historical knowledge, and compassion. I am so glad you offered this interview with this extraordinary person, and now look forward to reading her recent works on the Russian myths. I share your and her wonder about what might have happened had the Kerensky government not been overthrown--which is to say, had Lenin been missing from the scene. (I lived not many blocks away from K in New York in the late ‘60s, though at the time I did not appreciate his historical importance.) It must be very difficult to know a country and some of its leading intellectuals so well as she does, and have to watch its descent into this warlike barbarism. I have memories of some of my parents friends among older German refugees, both Jewish and not, who had to witness the destruction of a culture of which they had been a part--I mean the German one--while it committed a genocide against the other one. A Jewish physician and hero of World War I, who made his escape in the last possible moment in 1938 with his non-Jewish wife, come especially to mind. One hopes Putin’s Russia does not descend quite that far, and yet . . . As to the myth of Kievan Rus, may I ask tongue in cheek: Shouldn’t this be the one rightly adopted by the Ukraines? What right have the latecomers of Moscow and Petersburg to rule over the historical conquest of the Swedes who became Rus[sians]?

Excellent! One of your best!!! McGlynn is a true thinker. Thanks!!!

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

👍

Awesome interview

Thank you for airing this insightful conversation with Ms McGlynn - there is much food for thought here!

Poland has already passed our MIG jets to Ukraine. As spare parts😃

I hate to admit it but this is kinda the way I treated the US’s involvement in Viet Nam. I had been in the military prior and didn’t have to worry about it. I was against it if asked but wasn’t actively opposed.

@grahamstrouse1165

Жыл бұрын

I fear Putin may have learned from tricks from us. We send our armies to war a lot these days but our wars don’t directly impact that lives of many citizens.

Silicon Curtain/Jonathan Fink thanks again for interviewing these Ukraine ladies. Dr. Jade McGlynn is very intelligent, and very informative. She is very informed on Russian mythology. jtsdrd, USA

I find it strange that we still haven’t managed to give UA proper weapons after this war broke, especially when considering what’s at stake. None of the reasons for withholding those weapons really match the consequences if Russia wins this war. Russia’s willingness to use nuclear weapons is not going to be affected by anything that we in the west are doing or not doing, and why would it? If we think they are willing to use nuclear then we should just stop everything and instead try to talk Zelenskyy into some sort of agreement, I mean nothing is worth that risk and I believe that’s something everybody would agree to if it really comes down to a decision. Personally I don’t think they are willing to use nukes. I think they approach this the same way they approach everything else, they go all in until just before the very end where they stop. Their whole strategy is to bluff their way forward because what else can they do quite frankly. Their military capabilities are particularly bad and they fight against the entire world more or less, (just imagine that for a second...)The few allies they have are just as corrupted as they are, it’s not a good position to be in. Anyone in their position would behave exactly the same way, Putin’s actions makes all the sense in the world, but our’s do not. We are somehow stuck in between the yes and no answer to using nukes and by this we’re not doing UA a favor, more lives are extinguished because of our ambivalence and indecisiveness. Because a majority of people still thinks this war has something to do with nostalgic imperialistic dreams instead of the obvious reason being Putin’s fear of democracy and losing power and ultimately his life, therefor we fail to understand that he will never ever stop, of course he won't stop. Putin’s actions I understand, it’s our respons I don’t get at all. If we are serious about stopping this war, then we should do that.

Terrific discussion! These insights have really given me a different perspective on many topics. I’ve been trying to pull in and sort through lots of historical info and it is difficult sometimes to unravel fact, fiction and manipulation. This was very helpful.

Another realistic, informed and enlightening chat. I. Love. This. Channel.

So much happened in the 1990s 🤯 I would love to hear more about the political, social and economic impact of this time period in Russia. 👀

Really enjoyed this thought-provoking discussion.

Nice counterpoint, "Have you ever watched Fox News?"

Great interview, looking forward to reading the books.

This young lady is gonna go far, she says all the right things. And so pretty too, she must be a real inspiration to all those Ukrainian men dying on the front line so that we can prosper in our European way of life. Go girl go!!!

Something tells me the rebuilding of Ukraine will include a lot of bunkers and fortifications and military defence bases. Japan has earthquake proofing in all their new buildings, dams, etc. Likely bomb proofing will be built into all the building codes across the country. This may also affect building codes in Europe, in Georgia, etc.

@dougwedel9484

Жыл бұрын

I saw a documentary about Finland how Helsinki has massive facilities underground to be as bomb proof as they can. They did a lot of work to fortify against a Russian attack. Likely a lot of communities near Russia will do the same.

Outstanding quality commentary, by real knowledgeable, experienced experts. You won't find better on the topic.

I admire Jades compassion, empathy and impartially of judgement of others. It is an invaluable gift to bring to a complex discourse to what makes us human no matter what nationality.

11:50 "Unwillingly complicit". That's an interesting way to slice the bad apple pie of moral causality.

To be honest, scholars and academics usually really make great guests !! RS. Canada

Who's come here to listen to Dr McGlynn again, after her interview on Times Radio today (3rd October 2023) ?

Very interested to hear McGlynn mention Jeffery Sachs at 51:20. I'd like to hear a proper critique of the position he has been pushing.

The myths sustaining the Russians in their unprovoked war against Ukraine are largely fatuous and bare little scrutiny, in my opinion. Rather more potent than the myths, I would suggest, is an underlying feeling of insecurity, a feeling of inferiority in Russia with regard to Western civilisation, a consequent burning resentment and desire to humiliate Western civilisation if at all possible together with a painful and recurring realisation that Russia is a relatively backward country, especially when it comes to hi-tech. The competition with the West is never ending and may never end so long as Russia continues to exist.

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

Yes, definitely. Envy, as I have said in a few videos is a huge motivation for the distorted Russian mindset.

@briseboy

Жыл бұрын

@@SiliconCurtain Envy in its modern meaning appears to mean covetousness, a desire to have advantages or property on perceives as possessed by another. Jealousy seems to refer to more personal antisocial feeling, of resentment. Putin plays on resentment , competition, characterizing his nation as being in some form of existential competition. Of course, the reality WAS untrue; Russia supplied most of the fossil fuel energy used by Europe and most of the wood shipped as pieces od self-assembled furniture by Swedish IKEA to however much of the world it retails those kits. Humans are most vicious and therefore most violent toward those we perceive as having betrayed our trust (as if it were a possession! I don't wish to discuss semantics, even though these are the terms in which Putin frames reasons for total/hybrid warring against his perceived defectors Ukrainians). Following his KGB career in counterintelligence - which can be regarded as information management - mixed truth, rhetorical bias, falsehoods - he became an influence trader, finally able to manipulate the wealthy through use of financial and physical9?) coercive power. This is a strategy of both "oligarchs" and organized criminal bosses. In fact, Prigozhin was one such there before buying into Wagner PMC and continuing to amass funds & contracts worldwide. Criminals are entrepreneurs, with stock in trade consisting in part of unlawful acts, processes, behaviors, and products. In the US, the euphemism "transactional" refers to the venal social trading actions of those without loyalty, or emotional affect in its psychological meaning of attachment. From this we can observe the universal human belief in loyalties as "pieces" of self, as possessions. "L' Etat, c'est moi, et mienne, et tout ce que je pense être" - we appear to share this belief with Putin, whenever we are ungenerous. -- SURELY a genetic cognitive territoriality, extant in so many other animals.

@tatorials3608

Жыл бұрын

Bingo!!!! So tired of putins nutso ideologies being considered legitimate concerns Hitler really did hate the Jews - so that was his legitimate concern I mean, really, the guy wanted a country and is taking it and the Russian people for the most part don’t give a rat’s ass Great interview

@richardcory5024

Жыл бұрын

@@tatorials3608 Spot on!

@stephenhill545

4 ай бұрын

How to explain the gap in development. a problem for Russians who have been taught to believe they are exceptional. Hence all ghd conspiratorial thinking I guess.

Are there two Russia's ? if you listen to different interviews from suburban / urban there is a huge differences in knowledge of whats actually happening.

Sorry I need to write my WW2/Ribbentrop-Molotov pact/Poland comment a few hours later. I'm so busy atm, that I've trouble editing it after hitting "send" too early, that's why I deleted it temporarily ... my comment will return later. Great interview!

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

Please do post it again!

@Anita-k

Жыл бұрын

I'm sure, this is a longer challenge than initially expected, bc it ties into so many different aspects of the currently on-going war. Just started to collect time stamps and trying to point out, why I think the difference between WW2 and the Russians "Great Patriotic War" is so impotent for the current war.

Thank you for a very interesting interview/conversation!

Excellent guest. I honestly don’t know how you keep these videos to around an hour, I would want to keep talking for hours.

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

It’s a kindness to the guests! An hour is already a major call on their time and generosity…

Impressive ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This week has shown how powerful, even here in the UK, primetime TV is. The docudrama about the wrongful conviction of people running post offices has become a headline story, with a huge public outcry about the injustice of a situation. This has been known for many years. Pure TV documentaries on the exact same subject have not resulted in making this headline news. I talk about this because should a primetime docudrama on the Russian/Ukraine war be aired, and the public became emotionally involve in the death and destruction going on, support for Ukraine would soar. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦❤️🇬🇧

Thank you for this very insightful discussion. Much appreciated! Dr. McGlynn is a very beautiful and highly articulate woman to say the least. I always like to hear her studied viewpoint. I suggest maybe she also revisit the psychological experience of the Russian-Afghan War in the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990's as a psychological harbinger map of things to come. The current .01% insider oligarchy controlled educational system of Russia apparently teaches nothing of that experience. It is the same here in the U.S. regarding the mind bending catastrophe of the Vietnam War on U.S. society. (Me. 1st Lieutenant U.S. Army 1969-1971). We have still never dealt with the catastrophe, but it is always still there under the psychological surface. God bless David Crosby's song "Wooden Ships". If you look up the meanings of "Pokazuha" (kind of "Potemkin village" like "window dressing"), "Dedovstshina" (excessive recruit hazing), "Bezobrazia" (disgrace), and my fave of all "Bardak" (a wh*rehouse/brothel kind of "mess") as terms of current operational slang description used in the "No Professional Career NCO's" Russian Army culture, it may be a barometer on a coming second collapse of the entire Russian society again after 30 years of false bargains for a now betrayed fake daily survival. The mindless mass slaughter of soldiers always brings a day of eventual reckoning at the ground truth level in a society. I was friends with the late Russian Writer Vladislav Tamarov who wrote "Afghanistan: Soviet Vietnam". He died in December 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He used to stay with me many times in his travels in the U.S. in the mid 90's. War changes a country no matter whether you "win" or "lose". The insider Putin clique are apparently blind to World History in their current navel-gazing Patriarch Kirill ideology. May Vladislav Tamarov Rest-In-Peace. This is a section from his book. "He was holding his right leg, but the blood soaked through his fingers and flowed over his hand onto his sleeve. Intuition had served me again this time: my kick had knocked his automatic out of his grasp a fraction of a second before he could press the trigger. The second kick was to his face. It sent him flying about six feet. I set my sights on his head, but something stopped me, one of our guys let out a yelp behind me. Another bullet whistled by right next to me. Apparently, this Mujahadeen was not the only one here. Again, I aimed at his head, but something again stopped me. I saw how his hands were trembling. I noticed the horror in his eyes. “He is only a boy!” I thought and pressed the trigger.” - The late Vladislav Tamarov (1965-2014) "Afghanistan: Soviet Vietnam". From my lifetime Russian studies, If you want to know what the outcome of the Russian-Ukraine War is eventually going to be on the long term spiritual level in Russia, start to research and study the life of "Isabella Grinevskaya" (Beyle Friedberg) (1864-1944) who died in either St. Petersburg or Istanbul in 1944 during WWII at the age of 80. I say to everyone, here is knowledge: start to search for and understand a Theatrical Stage Play she wrote in St. Petersburg in 1903. Such knowledge will be life and death in the coming 2040's. Again, much thanks for this informative discussion with Dr. McGlynn!

33:19 The West did not sideline the Soviet effort in WWII! Instead, the West sidelined Poland's contribution and losses. Polish forces in exile, which were crucial in the Battle of Britain, the Italian campaign and after D-Day, were not allowed to participate in the great victory parade in London 8 June1946, as a sop to Stalin and the Communists.

@jezalb2710

Жыл бұрын

The RAF British pilots rebelled. And Polish pilots were allowed to take part in the parade

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

Totally agree - Poland is underplayed by British mythology out of ignorance, and by Russia out of colonial spite

I didn't realise that it was Jade's articles I had been routinely reading in the Guardian (correction the Telegraph) during the past year. It appears that the problem in Russia goes much deeper than the Kremlin leadership. It's a sizeable proportion of the Russian peoples willingness the acquiesce to what they told via are the State media, maybe because a mixture of it's the version of Russian history they prefer to believe and t's too difficult and dangerous to change things.

@stephenhill545

4 ай бұрын

It's more comfortable to be the good guys, and very human to want to be part of the majority. The kremlin understands psychology.

🙏🕊🌻🔱 Excellent Update! Ukraine is Strong! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes! The World Stays Committed! 🔱🌻🕊🙏

Another great interview.Congratulations to Jonathon to for keeping it on track. While digressions can be fascinating returning to the main points is important. I do agree that western under appreciation of massive Russian loses during WW2 has played into Russian resentment. Related to this I wonder whether mounting awful losses of Russian troops is so terrible and triggering that Russians are doubling down in their support for the war, it’s got to be worth the sacrifice or else psychologically it could sink them.

Really informative and interesting. I love this channel.

@SiliconCurtain

4 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Very clear way of speaking. As a non-native speaker I can only dream...

Thank you - a most illuminating discussion.

Again , thank you , learning so much

I recently heard the factories in Iran that produce missiles were attacked, many sites across Iran, and that means Russia will no longer be supplied weapons by Iran. I'm wondering how that will affect Iran's internal politics.

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

That literally kicked off last night!

Wow Jade McGlynn is such an effective communicator it's almost mesmerising. I'm not sure I have ever received so much geopolitical insight so effortlessly. I am really pleased my kid has Kings College on top of his university shortlist to study geopolitics. Really good luck . Fingers crossed he gets in

When talk turns to WWII and relative contributions, it nearly always focuses on Lend-Lease. Isn't the underlying assumption that the main focus of the war was the Eastern Front? Phillips O'Brien (prof. at St Andrews) has challenged that idea. It basically comes from the fact that by far the majority of the dying and suffering happened there. But I was surprised to find that 55% of the German arms budget went on the Luftwaffe (+ whatever for the Kriegsmarine). O'Brien's thesis is that the US and Britain won the war by destroying Germany's capacity to make it. (BTW, the amount for armoured vehicles was 5-7%. While the Battle of Kursk was monumental. This should provide some context). The Battle of Britain and the U-Boat war, or the bombing of Germany, may not have involved many human beings but they were hugely costly in resources. When discussing allied contributions to WWII, while we shouldn't ignore the human cost of the Eastern Front, we shouldn't buy into the idea that that was where the war was won.

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

Exactly- suffering and death does not equal strategic importance!

Forgive me for questioning the judgment of anyone who considered living in Russia permanently. I spent time there. I speak Russian. I was shaken down by Moscow police. The country has a air that is unpleasant. I moved to Ukraine and spent 9 years there. No comparison.

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

That I can absolutely believe. It seems to me there is a totally different mindset and spirit in those two countries. One imbued with melancholy and regret, the other with humour and optimism. I did like the Russian humour, however, but it was often dark and nihilistic.

@outandabout4812

Жыл бұрын

I wouldn't even fly through Russia in the past.

Very interesting interview, but hopefully Dr. McGlynn will use a better microphone setup next time, as the low sound quality made her British English difficult to understand for this American, whereas the interviewer's clear sound quality made him easy to understand.

Excellent and challenging theme and discussion of myths and drivers. (BTW. A PHD in Russian, that’s a wide topic for a PHD. Post USSR?) Russia’s War is controversial. If there was no war, was there an essential unmet need to have a war to Russians? I don’t think so. Russians, including inner elite were surprised. How many wars have hundreds of thousands of its service aged civilians ( not oppressed minorities) leave their country when its country starts a war? Putin has HIS essential need based on his historical legacy knowing his life is near its end: a legacy compared to Russian history and other ‘great’ leaders. To some extent it could be Russia’s war, but only for brain washed public, which in turn is really reflects Putin’s personal ideals anyway. Hence in my opinion, it’s still Putin’s War.

@agh0x01

Жыл бұрын

Perhaps a Ph.D in the Russian language. That's what I'd take it to be, but it's possible that Jonathan misspoke.

@considerthis7712

Жыл бұрын

@@agh0x01 yes, thought as much, not a big deal, only “Russian” spoken that was read off written preamble in utube.

@Laura-S196

Жыл бұрын

@@agh0x01 From Wikipedia: Russian studies is an interdisciplinary field crossing politics, history, culture, economics, and languages of Russia and its neighborhood, often grouped under Soviet and Communist studies. Russian studies should not be confused with the study of the Russian literature or linguistics, which is often a distinct department within universities. In university, a Russian studies major includes many cultural classes teaching Russian politics, history, geography, linguistics, Russian language, literature, and arts. Mysticism and folklore is commonly studied, introduction of Christianity, rule under the tsars and expansion of Russian empire, later rule under communism, history of the Soviet Union, and its collapse and studies about present-day Russia.

@agh0x01

Жыл бұрын

@@Laura-S196 I think the issue was Jonathan introducing her studies as "Russian", rather than Russian studies.

Interesting conversation. However, I would add the idea that the Russian citizens had earnest hopes in the 1990ies to the list of myths. Peter Pomerantsev's analysis of everyday Soviet cynicism that consisted in being a komsomolec in the morning and listening to BBC in the evening is quite apt here. The number of Russians who had earnest hopes back then is identical to the number of those who are against the war now.

This is a very interesting dialogue and I'll certainly be ordering these books. It is a very solid argument for the West to engineer the total collapse of Russian power and regional influence. Like Iraq, russia must be defanged by being made into a failed state for the safety of its neighbours. The English denial about the vicious nature of their historical attacking and looting of countries around the world (the "empire")(to my shame my great grandfather commanded a fort in what is now Pakistan's tribal area) is on the same spectrum as russian support for imperial aggression. The russians are still at the active stage of this aggressive tendency, whereas the english have moved onto the less aggressive nostalgic stage. The West must face and reject it's terrible legacy of genocide, societal vandalism and cultural erasure so we can look the likes of putin and Jinping in the eye and say "no more". Calling the the authoritarianism of soviet russia "communism" is nonsense. It was far closer to a type of monarchy with a feudal structure under a leader. And the opposite to democracy is authoritarianism (not Communism, which can and should be hyper democratic).

@haroldjones9321

Жыл бұрын

They call themselves communists! They are communists as are the CCP. Don't fall victim to their propaganda. They are not liberating oppressed russians in The Republic of Georgia but are importing them there. It is their invasion tactic regardless which countries' leaders succum to their propaganda. Is the future of the Republic of Georgia with the Russian terrorists state or will it remain in the European sphere of influence. Will it too be victimized by Russia or will it become a part of the European sphere including being a new member of that politicized NATO.

KGB coup post Yeltsin mixed with criminals or mafia has led to a very dislocated society

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

Or coup with the acquiesce and support of Yeltsin… Russia has never had a fully peaceful, democratic transition of power. Never. Not once.

WOW. REALLY interesting. Worth listening to more than once.

I just wanted to leave a comment here to help you with the KZread algorithm. I don’t watch the videos, but I listen on Apple Podcasts and these interviews are top notch! Thanks

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

👍

@56:00 there's a clear contradiction for the Federation if the institution of state is being held up as of more value than the individual citizen if the President (or the Cabinet or the Citadel Inner Circle) are being (individually and as personal powerholders) held up (by virtue of position, tenure or office) as more powerful than the state - as an institution.

A Ph.D. who knows her stuff. Great guest.

Jade is so beautiful. I could look into her eyes for hours!!!!😉😊

@SiliconCurtain

Жыл бұрын

😂 I’m sure she’d be flattered!!

Very intriguing guest as always 🤔

Astonishing. Excellent. Thnx.

My goodness, Cur (may I call you Cur, for short?) You've come up with another good one. For being an academic, she's got a no-nonsense attitude about politics.

Another thought provoking interview.

so this was refreshing and enlightening Thank you.