Victory of pragmatism

Despite all the talk about alternative morality and other spiritual bonds, the real ideology of Putin's "Russian world" is extreme pragmatism with immoralism. Literally the denial of all morality for the sake of "interests". Yesterday's announced watershed Putin's speech, as expected, turned out to be a set of platitudes, but the important thing is that after a short introduction condemning Western hegemony, Putin spent half an hour talking about how the West shoots itself in the foot with its sanctions. It is clear that about a stable Russian economy and a decaying West - this is just a form of auto-training that has not changed at all since Soviet times. However, there is some truth in this. It would be wiser for the West, or at least some part of it, represented by Western Europe, to turn a blind eye to the current hostilities. After all, Ukraine's share in the world economy is not that big, but Russian gas and oil are really profitable. But, as we see, the leaders of old Europe, having visited Ukraine yesterday, did not dance to Putin's tune and did not take the hypocritical position of the Leopold cats, calling for peace at any cost. This is unpleasant, because all these backstage corruption fronts are the only place where the Russian Federation has so far won at least some victories. Putin has spent years entangling Europe with his web of resource dependence - as we see now, precisely with the expectation that when the X hour comes, Europe will not go against its economic interests.

And now the X hour has come. And Europe suddenly goes against its economic interests. Of course, there are circles in Europe that are either bought by Putin or are convinced that it is necessary to "follow interests." But, as we see, they fail to influence the main agenda. It turns out that it is not pragmatism that rules European politics. And, even if he rules European politicians, they are still forced to adapt to voters who are configured a little differently. Here, however, one can say that support for Ukraine is now quite pragmatic. Only in the long term, because the point is not to encourage blackmail and terror in the international arena. However, I do not think that the Europeans who come out to rallies in support of Ukraine are primarily guided by such considerations. Rather, they simply show solidarity with the victim. And they are ready to overpay for gas and gasoline for the sake of it.

And the "club of dictators" is a completely different matter - all these "new axis countries" that Putin is trying to consolidate. This is where the realm of pragmatism and selfish interests is really continuous. Tokayev, who arrived at yesterday's forum, managed to declare that he would support sanctions, refused to recognize the LDNR, and at the same time from the Order of Nevsky. Of course, his considerations are purely practical: he will simply bet on the winner, and it is beneficial for him to cling to the principle of "territorial integrity" if only in order not to get a "people's republic" in the north of Kazakhstan. Tokayev said this directly. Another closest ally, the Belarusian dad, speaks more cunningly. But there is absolutely no doubt - he will stick a knife in the back at the first opportunity. Similarly, with the European right-wing populists, whom Putin fed for years, and yesterday threatened them with coming to power on a wave of "discontent in Europe." Support for the Russian Federation in this environment is melting rapidly, and also pragmatically: they are fleeing from a sinking ship, taking money.

In general, it seems that we will see not so much the victory of idealism over pragmatism as the victory of pragmatism over itself.

Mihail Pojarsky 2022-06-18