View source for Putin's conservatism

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a popular radio station published a poll pitting "Putin's conservatism" against "Western new values". If the "new values" are at least somehow concretized (LGBT, BLM, MITU), then the definition of the word "conservatism" is an eternal problem. For example, it is known that in the US, conservatives are often supporters of a market economy and deregulation. it was these values that the founding fathers defended, who by the standards of Europe at that time were the most liberal. As a result, the image of the American conservative is very different from the European one (similarly with liberals). Thus, conservatism is not something that is an independent phenomenon, it all depends on what exactly is being "conserved".

What is Putin's conservatism? What values does he "conserve"? First of all, institutionalized homophobia catches the eye. One can argue to what extent homophobia is generally a conservative value (in its usual form, it is rather a construct of the 19th century). But be that as it may, an anti-LGBT crusade must be accompanied by some kind of positive agenda in the form of... family values? And here, of course, there is a hitch: what kind of family values does a country embody with the highest level of abortions, divorces and a record number of fugitives from alimony? And here, after all, you can’t even get away with the fact that the people got caught bad, and the elites show a noble example. In the same rotten USA, a divorced politician with mistresses and an indefinite circle of illegitimate children will have no chance even for a moderate Democratic electorate, not to mention the Republicans. But this is what reigns in our country, giving the very name "Putin's conservatism." And this is not the worst example of moral character among the elites.

Whatever one may say, "Putin's conservatism" has a bad agenda with a positive agenda. The whole point is precisely in the definition from the opposite - "against LGBT, BLM, MITU." Especially, of course, MITU - and here is another difference between Putin's conservatism and normal. For example, I have not seen a single American conservative who would stand up for Harvey Weinstein. Which is absolutely natural: Weinstein, from a conservative point of view, is the embodiment of moral debauchery. It is also interesting that MITU, with all its excesses, leads to the birth of an ethic of the type "with a woman - strictly formal relations, preferably with witnesses." And it's... conservative. Literally a revival of Victorian morality, nullifying the sexual revolution of the long 60s. However, among "Putin's conservatives" every second managed to shed a tear at Harvey and be indignant at precisely this: "what now, and you can't pinch an intern's ass?" Well, yes, you can’t, but it’s better - before the wedding, no, no. And this is not a new ethics, but the very old one.

In general, "Putin's conservatism" opposes the "new ethics" in those aspects where the latter criticizes moral licentiousness and establishes norms of behavior. Divorces, mistresses, bastard children, interns squeezed into a corner - this is what they do not want to give up, this is what they propose to carefully preserve within the framework of "Putin's conservatism." Decay.

[[Mihail Pojarsky]] 2021-10-26
[[ru: Путинский консерватизм]]