First, everything here is a work in progress. I will start with my basic responses as they are relevant to the mission of the CCI trip, then continue to other, more specific topics. I will add links as I find them and may modify content over time.
I personally need to be able to explain these things, so that I can teach people how to properly respect Russia, in order that I can feel comfortable living in the West, and to do what I can to prevent conflicts. But the language will never be right, unable to prevent people from avoiding the message, there will never be enough references, and I don't want to force people to think about politics if they need to avoid such topics.
Basically, I want people to view the US as I see it -- as just another country, another society.
Russia is not some exemplar of corruption and authoritarianism, and the US is not some exemplar of democracy and freedom -- they are just societies, with their own merits, faults, and ways of doing things.
There are a few aspects of this I wish to emphasize.
Method
I will write this narrative to be counter not only to the American one, or even the Russian one, but also in some ways counter to some of the other people who were on the trip. I don't do this to play "devil's advocate" or purposefully contradict people. I just refuse to be limited by the "liberal -- moderate -- conservative" political spectrum or any other need to take sides and adjusting one's beliefs to match those of your "allies".
Most of what I want to write here is about showing definitions or pushing past biases as well at talking to my experiences. Most of us exist in a limited sphere of concepts and possibilities, and just aren't aware of other possibilities, or that what they are exposed to is false or problematic. And many academic sources arguing for the legitimacy of the Russian point of view exist, which I can link to it people prefer this style of explanation.
I will draw from my understanding of the indigenous rights movement, as well as my very limited understanding of the Haudenosaunee, whose land we occupy in certain regions of southern Ontario, and the source culture of federalism and feminism, in order to explain the issues of certain Russiaphobic thought and concepts. Yes, I know Russia has her own history of imperialism and genocide, but much of this philosophical tradition is still relevant.
Motivation
From my point of view, I see the US establishment blame Russia for everything it can, with any attempt of a counter narrative being because someone is a “Putin apologist.” There is a very condescending method of speaking about Russians, sometimes as if Russians are innately corrupt. On TV, the Russian character is almost always a stereotyped villain.
Most Americans and many other people with whom I talk seem to believe this narrative, taking for granted that it is true without applying critical thought and analyzing things from the context which they may not even be aware of as existing. When I talk to people about my interest in Russia, many people feel the need to condemn the Russian government, even if I don't even mention politics.
Americans tend to take for granted that what they are told on the news is true, and that the system they live in is right and just, even when confronted by evidence to the contrary, while in Russia, people seem not to regard power, the government or the news pundits, as absolute authorities or necessarily trustworthy.
Index of Pages
Note: More is coming. This is just the backbones of my response and experiences of the CCI trip as well as why I went.
Typical Objections and Responses
"But I don't believe Russians are evil, etc."
I will have longer dialogues on authoritarianism and racism, but basically the truth is -- yes you do believe this. I know not everyone is, but basically, there is a difference between intellectual understanding and instinctual belief.
By just feeling the need to oppose the Russian government as authoritarian in any conversation regarding Russia while still needing to claim you are not anti-police in dialogues in the US shows a bias.
"But these claims are really true, Russia is actually Authoritarian, etc."
Based on what specifically you are referring to, one of a number of responses are valid
1) "No it is not actually true." --
There are many of these accusations, almost all of which I don't actually know and am only aware of indirectly. While conservatives spread misinformation about blacks, immigrants, and gender minorities, so do mainstream news sources spread misinformation about Russia and Russians.
2) "How you frame the situation is not actually true." --
This one comes up a lot in terms of relations between Russia and other countries, especially other Eastern European countries. Certain issues of internal politics also have this character.
Basically, in simplifying the situation to make your opponent appear monstrous (see point 3 below), misattributions of faults and issues will occur. Acting assertive or the act of self-defense appears like aggression to a bully, and the statement "Journalist are killed in Russia," does not necessarily mean "Putin orders the death of journalists."
3) "Yes it is true, but you don't get to judge." --
The racism here is a bit more subtle -- basically, people will overemphasize the faults of their target, use them to define this other society, while deemphasizing the similar traits or patterns in their own society. This criticism can be rephrased by the quote: "Racism is white men saving brown women from brown men." The biblical version is: "He who is without sin, cast the first stone." I will go into more detail on this, and there is plenty of other writing explaining this issue, but basically, criticism of a society without respect is racist.
There are a few aspects of this I wish to emphasize.
- I am not trying to glorify Russia or demonize the US in anything I am trying to explain or show.
- I know the cultures are not monolithic.
- Culture is a part, not the whole of identity.
- I know American culture is not right for me because I see other people, even activists, dissonants who do feel connected to this identity.
- With Russian culture, even when I learn of aspects which are contrary to my own identity, the sense of relation, desire to help and be involved, etc. don't go away, while contrary features do trigger alienation with relation to indigenous cultures.
- I have been thinking about these things for over 10 years, dealing with my personal feelings, reading and studying. I may not have all the answers, but as many things I have written should show, chances are that I have already considered your objections.
Method
I will write this narrative to be counter not only to the American one, or even the Russian one, but also in some ways counter to some of the other people who were on the trip. I don't do this to play "devil's advocate" or purposefully contradict people. I just refuse to be limited by the "liberal -- moderate -- conservative" political spectrum or any other need to take sides and adjusting one's beliefs to match those of your "allies".
I will draw from my understanding of the indigenous rights movement, as well as my very limited understanding of the Haudenosaunee, whose land we occupy in certain regions of southern Ontario, and the source culture of federalism and feminism, in order to explain the issues of certain Russiaphobic thought and concepts. Yes, I know Russia has her own history of imperialism and genocide, but much of this philosophical tradition is still relevant.
Motivation
From my point of view, I see the US establishment blame Russia for everything it can, with any attempt of a counter narrative being because someone is a “Putin apologist.” There is a very condescending method of speaking about Russians, sometimes as if Russians are innately corrupt. On TV, the Russian character is almost always a stereotyped villain.
Most Americans and many other people with whom I talk seem to believe this narrative, taking for granted that it is true without applying critical thought and analyzing things from the context which they may not even be aware of as existing. When I talk to people about my interest in Russia, many people feel the need to condemn the Russian government, even if I don't even mention politics.
Americans tend to take for granted that what they are told on the news is true, and that the system they live in is right and just, even when confronted by evidence to the contrary, while in Russia, people seem not to regard power, the government or the news pundits, as absolute authorities or necessarily trustworthy.
Except, the Russian protesters will, when criticizing the police, talk as if these laws and traditions (“resisting arrest” or pro-police bias of courts, for instance) don’t exist in the US, and they do.
And I think there should be a way for people in Eastern European countries to develop critiques or social movements where it isn’t an either-or “should we be like the West” or “should we embrace out authoritarian past.” For an alternative to this dialog to be popularized as a potential cultural, (not necessarily political,) path.
Index of Pages
Note: More is coming. This is just the backbones of my response and experiences of the CCI trip as well as why I went.
- Basic Appeal to the Value of Diplomacy and the Legitimacy of the Russian Experience and Struggles
- Repression of Dissent
- Militarism
- Cultural Differences Between Americans and Russians
- Russian Identity and American Ideology
"But I don't believe Russians are evil, etc."
I will have longer dialogues on authoritarianism and racism, but basically the truth is -- yes you do believe this. I know not everyone is, but basically, there is a difference between intellectual understanding and instinctual belief.
By just feeling the need to oppose the Russian government as authoritarian in any conversation regarding Russia while still needing to claim you are not anti-police in dialogues in the US shows a bias.
"But these claims are really true, Russia is actually Authoritarian, etc."
Based on what specifically you are referring to, one of a number of responses are valid
1) "No it is not actually true." --
There are many of these accusations, almost all of which I don't actually know and am only aware of indirectly. While conservatives spread misinformation about blacks, immigrants, and gender minorities, so do mainstream news sources spread misinformation about Russia and Russians.
2) "How you frame the situation is not actually true." --
This one comes up a lot in terms of relations between Russia and other countries, especially other Eastern European countries. Certain issues of internal politics also have this character.
Basically, in simplifying the situation to make your opponent appear monstrous (see point 3 below), misattributions of faults and issues will occur. Acting assertive or the act of self-defense appears like aggression to a bully, and the statement "Journalist are killed in Russia," does not necessarily mean "Putin orders the death of journalists."
3) "Yes it is true, but you don't get to judge." --
The racism here is a bit more subtle -- basically, people will overemphasize the faults of their target, use them to define this other society, while deemphasizing the similar traits or patterns in their own society. This criticism can be rephrased by the quote: "Racism is white men saving brown women from brown men." The biblical version is: "He who is without sin, cast the first stone." I will go into more detail on this, and there is plenty of other writing explaining this issue, but basically, criticism of a society without respect is racist.
"But how democratic are they?"
Well, I want to be careful about putting too much stock in these democracy ratings, but my impression is that the US and Russia are similar and in this middle tier, in that they don't meet the "European standard of social democracy and liberalism," or however you want to frame it, but they also go through the motions of "real" elections -- they are still republican in structure, rather than being technocratic (like "communist" states) or theocratic (like monarchies).
(I guess the other governance structure, which would be more "democratic," could be called "syndicalist", for which I am referring to any of the council-based systems, not just the labor union ones the term actually refers to, and am including many "tribal" systems which are ones based on familial relations. While this fourth structure may not be familiar to many people, it has existed, it still exists, it has been very successful in many situations, [there are examples here] and people still debate how to design such things well.)
However, I wish to warn you against using these ratings, as they are often used to delegitimize other peoples under the guise of freeing them. People in other countries have their own struggles and ways of thinking that are not easily represented by simple statistics.
For a comparison of some of the basic criticisms of Russia and the reality of the situation, I have expanded here: Repression of Dissent, Militarism.
However, I wish to warn you against using these ratings, as they are often used to delegitimize other peoples under the guise of freeing them. People in other countries have their own struggles and ways of thinking that are not easily represented by simple statistics.
For a comparison of some of the basic criticisms of Russia and the reality of the situation, I have expanded here: Repression of Dissent, Militarism.
Links
Note: Coming.
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