Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1497523
Ever since 2014, all nations remaining under Russian pressure started to ask one question: what should be the proper reaction to that informational aggression? Two approaches clash together here: one assumes that own info-sphere shall be completely cut off from any Russian influence, or any narrative coming from Russia, and one may come to a conclusion that the mere presence of the said propaganda will always lead to destabilization; the second approach indicates that there is a necessity to examine the Russian narrative, understand the Russian ways of thinking, the sources of propaganda, to ruin the propaganda theses and designate the weak points, and thus build resilience to manipulation among the audience. Vaccination over isolation, if medical terminology is used. I, personally, was always a proponent and endorser of the latter approach. This is why I was following the Russian internal media narrative and social discourse, as well as the discourse emerging among the Russian elites, or the opposition. To try to understand their way of thinking about the external world, and understand what actions they may take, in relation to other states. Today I will make an attempt at becoming a Russian, and explain, from the Russian point of view, why is Russia entitled to start a war in Ukraine, why that war is a necessity, and why the war in Ukraine is a defensive one - as the Russians may perceive it. This would not be an attempt at justifying the Russian actions. I would like to show the readers how grand the perceptual differences are when looking at the world, between Russia, and most of the western nations. CONFLICT OF IDENTITY Let us start with the simplest of matters. Let's try to understand why a counterpart of „Mr. Smith", namely „Mr. Ivanov", considers Ukraine to be a part of Russia, and the Ukrainians - a part of the Russian nation. That perception of the southern neighbor is natural for the Russians, and it is a part of indoctrination conducted from the very start of education - it begins during history lessons in primary school. Views as such are ANALYSIS