In my last article, I described some cultural traits of Russians. These traits are not flattering. One of these traits is that Russians have a need to dominate other ethnic groups. That is a big reason for the invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian Demographics
I’m going to throw a couple of numbers out. I’m not sure where I got these numbers; they are only my estimate and not based on any kind of anthropological study. So, for the moment, just take my numbers as reasonably accurate, as they frame my hypothesis at the end of this article.
I estimate that 60% of ethnic Russians have these negative traits. The other 40% of Russians are reasonably reasonable people.
I should say that I did not include the 100 or so other ethnic groups in Russia that constitute about 25% of the population. They are not Russian, and they do not count in the grand scheme of things being Russian.
Russians have had at least two centuries of propaganda that they are somehow a superior race. The 60% have bought into this message. And to restore Russia’s rightful position, the invasion into Ukraine is justifiable. This demographic will happily sacrifice someone else’s sons and husbands to this cause. Some will willingly send their own sons and husbands into battle.
The 40% have not bought into the propaganda. They recognize the many faults of their country. Some of them have been bribed with higher societal positions, so they won’t make too much noise. Many of the others live in some degree of fear; they will try their best to keep their heads low so as not to be sent to prison.
So what I have done is to divide the Russian people into two big demographic groups: (1) Russia-first Russians, the 60%, and (2) scared-of authorities Russians, the 40%. I know this model is simplified, but it helps to explain a few points I’m going to make.
Belonging to either of these two groups is not something inherent in Russian DNA. The genetics do not predispose most Russians to belonging to one of these two groups. Rather it is the societal conditioning that brought Russians these sets of values.
Let me make this point in a different way. If somehow you were conceived into a Russian family, you would — statistically speaking — accept one set of values or the other. If you believe that your current intellect, logic, rationality, etc. could somehow elevate you above that Russian conditioning, then that means you are superior to nearly all Russians for they seem unable to overcome that conditioning. But you can!
I would call that thinking “vain.” You were born into a culture that did not have these Russian values, so you did not have to overcome them to reach your superior thinking.
Changing from 60/40
Here’s another point about the 40% in Russian society. While they might be reasonably reasonable people (like most Medium readers), they are scared to take a political initiative that many western activists would consider normal to effect positive change in society. So the 40% reasonable Russians cannot make the noise to challenge the thinking of the 60%. In other words, the 60% are not getting any feedback that their way might not be the best way. The 60% have the freedom to push their agenda harder.
But let’s just wave a little magic wand. Let’s cut the Russian-first group in half. Now our Russian demographic has changed from 60/40 to 30/70. With this kind of change, it’s not hard to imagine the “scared-of-authorities” Russians becoming less scared. It will be harder for authorities to crack down on dissenters: there is more safety in a larger group. The Russian-first Russians are kept in check.
Many Russian citizens will find more purpose in life than to just survive a repressive system.
Let’s just wave our wand a bit more and cut the Russia-first group in half again, to 15%. The reasonably reasonable Russians now constitute 85%. It would be hard for this society to find the political will to invade Ukraine.
Individual and Societal Values
While it is wishful thinking to think we can wave magic wands and get these societal results, the Russians are showing us that most of our value systems do not come from any self-introspection. Most of us take our cues from the society around us: Family, community, peer groups, religion, celebrities, pop culture, advertising, etc.
And sometimes those cues for “good” values come from the government itself. Most Russians have accepted the societal roles the official Russian propaganda from the tsars, communists, and kleptocrats have laid out for them. And the propaganda has helped the power brokers stay in power, regardless of the system of governance. As long as Russians can dominate other ethnic groups, Russians have allowed their leaders to lead.
In other words, when enough of the population takes on similar values, those values become a societal force that can be manipulated by the leaders. That is an important result of propaganda.
While we see how propaganda has affected the collective Russian psyche, we really should be asking how propaganda has affected us. Are we free of social conditioning?
Western Propaganda
I have a life experience that says most Medium readers have succumbed to the effects of western propaganda.
I have invented an alternative democracy, Tiered Democratic Governance (TDG). Since joining Medium four years ago, I have engaged with at least 4,000 people about this new system. Let’s just say that interest is “very close to zero.” Why?
Western propaganda has told us that western democracy is a natural way for society to order itself. There can be no other way.
Western propaganda has told us that western democracy is kind of a messy system. Yet it works out reasonably well. There can be no other way.
Western propaganda tells us that democracy is forever. There can be no other way.
Western propaganda tells us that undemocratic forces can easily be beaten — if we take certain rightful steps. There can be no other way.
Western propaganda has conditioned you not to go beyond the current known ways of democracy. There can be no other way.
And that is why you cannot spend the three hours to investigate my ideas.
In other words, you are just as paralyzed from moving your society forward as the 40% of Russians are paralyzed from moving their society forward.
Paralysis! That too is an important result of effective propaganda.
Now ask yourself: “Who benefits from your paralysis?”
Published on Medium 2023
Elevating the Human Condition is an Unpopular Opinion
So Politically Paralyzed We Are
