Realized the other day that I've been subjected to years and years of propaganda about Russia and Putin. Even correcting for it a bit in my head, it still doesn't seem like an amazing place to live. But is it better or worse for the average Joe?
My impression is that its 2nd world. Lots of modern technology, but shitty and like 20 years behind. Not progressive in terms of LGBT or women's rights. Definitely not a democracy and basically run by plutocrats.
Anyone have personal experience there?
Yup. While you are at it, make sure to read up on China, Cuba, Vietnam & DPRK. Misinformation about those countries is as strong as ever.
Back to your question. How bad is Russia? That depends on how you define “bad” in this context. Russia is a liberal, capitalist state, with large social programs and safety nets. It is a presidential republic with your standard western representative democracy in place. Are any of those bad? From a western (neocon) standpoint there is nothing “bad” about it. All capitalist values and systems are working as intended within the country. There is the first main point about Russia that many people have a hard time understanding - Russia isn’t some cold dark place run by KGB-FSB agents. In my experience, life in Russia hardly differs from any other western nations (shocker i know, and my statement can be considered controversial).
As much as I wish he was a secret undercover marxist, he is not. An argument can be made that he is a tool for the wealthy, but for normal citizens, he is a symbol and a guarantee of stability (when compared to the 90s, which was a complete shitshow). An important note to make on Putin is that he is almost entirely focused on inner politics. Russia’s involvement in world politics is highly overstated by the media.
What does that even mean lol? That’s a contradiction my man. Having retained and modernised soviet industry, and with investments from western international capital, the Russian economy produces nearly every possible item. Russia is severely behind on microelectronics. But, on the other hand, she has a strong IT industry with a homegrown search engine yandex (massive multibillion dollar corporation), social media (vk/odnoklassniki) etc etc. “20 years behind” is a generalising term which can severely impede any discussion about development.
LGBT rights activists exist and are numerous in Russia, but sadly, conservative values are still present. The only law that is anti-lgbt is the notorious “Anti LGBT propaganda to children” law restricting activism. Women’s rights is a separate issue, as women were given equal rights after the revolution. However, how is it in reality? Depends. My mother says she was never restricted in any way, given maternal leave and so on. Russia gives out huge child subsidies to families. Currently it is something like 450 000 rubles (with an average wage of 45 000). Russia is a large, multi-ethnic country. Rights of women are likely far worse in Dagestan due to traditions and religion
Run by business. How is that different from say, the US / Europe?
Anyhow sorry for lots of text. There is more to add but so little time. If I had to summarise: Life in Russia is extremely similar to that of the west, as in your standard capitalist country. The only difference, is wages are lower due to material conditions (only when counted in a dollar equivalent). Make sure to visit and see for yourself. It will be an eye opening experience.
Source: Am ethnically Russian, visited in 2011, 2016, 2018 and have family there.
"still present" undersells it a bit. It's more like "they're utterly and violently dominant."
Very true. Horrible understatement on my part What's worse is that right now, there is a growing connection between business and church and state. Churches instil traditional values -> Business and State builds more -> cycle continues. In reality, the church is just another landlord/ capitalist. They own a bunch of factories farms etc. What's missing is the peasantry.
People get up in arms about the russian polonium killings, but assassinations of a judge's family or frivolous arrest of activist lawyers/journalists in america are not spun in the media the same way.
Isn't same-sex marriage still not recognised in Russia?
Marriage specifically is less of a big deal in Russia than it is in the West in general, IMO. Civil marriages (no official registration) have been common since Soviet times.
Respect for gay rights is what's severely lacking. It's changing for younger people, but for older people it's like asking you to accept NAMBLA. Outside the insular world of theater/arts, you'd only hear of homosexuality as a thing in dirty jokes or prisons, and anything to do with prisons is highly stigmatized. People are just super ignorant. And it also gets lumped in with everything else new and foreign and poisonous coming in after the fall of the Iron Curtain - drugs, pornography, prostitution, bad TV, incivility.
Yes, sadly it isn't. :(. My bad for not explicitly stating it
Thanks for type this out. Very interesting. Yeah, modern but 20 years old doesn't make sense. Maybe more like 5 years back? My old boss would always buy a new phone and then bring back his family his used one, because it was still better than what they had (according to him, also this was Ukraine, so not the same thing, but tells you what I'm working with, knowledge wise).
Edit. So many typos. Fuck it
Awesome that you liked it!
Ahha I use a 2015 phone as well... and I live in Australia. Now seriously, consumerism is on the rise in Russia. Every year, thousands line up in lines for the release of a new Iphone. Can everyone get one? sure. But its expensive. Any product is available for money in Russia. The problem is that money is concentrated in the rich cities (just how capitalism works) I cant speak for Ukraine, but I am aware they are far behind in certain areas. Unlike Russia, IMO ukraine is nearly fully de-industrialised. Their main export is Labor and Sunflower seeds. My family left the Donbass after the war began and settled in Moscow. They say that sadly Ukraine is extremely poor. Thinking about it makes me want to cry, tbh.