He will try to hold his breath while he tells the military to intensify their assaults. This guy, like Trump, don't know how to lose gracefully. The whole war is based on the theory that Ukraine does not exist as a separate state. If Russia can't achieve the goals it has publicly set itself, it means losing to a non-entity in their eyes. It would legitimize Ukraine, which means sanctions, arrest warrants, prosecutions and enormous compensation demands that could make it very difficult for state owned businesses to retrieve full compensation for the goods they sell abroad.
“The czar is good, the ministers are bad” is the perpetual gambit of Russian policy. So, when push comes to shove, the czar fires -sometimes literally- some minister or other.
The surfacing of unusual economic criticism is significant precisely because it is unusual. In systems where public dissent is structurally costly, the appearance of criticism signals either that the cost has been lowered — or that someone with sufficient protection has decided to absorb it. Neither interpretation is reassuring for stability. The question isn't what is being said. It's who is being allowed to say it.
So, Russia is going towards a military dictatorship, like Germany in First World War, with the civilians being sidetracked? These Telegram and VPN blockades seem to be of military origin, because this kind of disruption could mean major unrest.
Of course, Hindenburg and Luttendorf had huge military success before such a step (against the Russian empire, ironically).
The "good Czar, bad boyars" gambit won't work so well this time, I guess
I’m shocked the oligarchs haven’t revolted yet with members of the security services and military; they seem to be getting poorer and weaker by the day!
Putin can change the government but that will not fix the economy. Still can't see how putin will get away
He will try to hold his breath while he tells the military to intensify their assaults. This guy, like Trump, don't know how to lose gracefully. The whole war is based on the theory that Ukraine does not exist as a separate state. If Russia can't achieve the goals it has publicly set itself, it means losing to a non-entity in their eyes. It would legitimize Ukraine, which means sanctions, arrest warrants, prosecutions and enormous compensation demands that could make it very difficult for state owned businesses to retrieve full compensation for the goods they sell abroad.
So glad to see you on substack. Subscribed.
“The czar is good, the ministers are bad” is the perpetual gambit of Russian policy. So, when push comes to shove, the czar fires -sometimes literally- some minister or other.
The surfacing of unusual economic criticism is significant precisely because it is unusual. In systems where public dissent is structurally costly, the appearance of criticism signals either that the cost has been lowered — or that someone with sufficient protection has decided to absorb it. Neither interpretation is reassuring for stability. The question isn't what is being said. It's who is being allowed to say it.
So, Russia is going towards a military dictatorship, like Germany in First World War, with the civilians being sidetracked? These Telegram and VPN blockades seem to be of military origin, because this kind of disruption could mean major unrest.
Of course, Hindenburg and Luttendorf had huge military success before such a step (against the Russian empire, ironically).
The "good Czar, bad boyars" gambit won't work so well this time, I guess
I’m shocked the oligarchs haven’t revolted yet with members of the security services and military; they seem to be getting poorer and weaker by the day!