Indeed, the concessions were given because there was a fear of USSR as an alternative model. Now they've managed to convince Europeans that Russia is the second coming of nazi Germany, and they're using that fear to dismantle the social safety net that the oligarchs resented having to accommodate this whole time.
Yeah, it's like their transitioning from a commodity backed currency to a fiat currency instead except with social compliance instead. Instead of having people's loyalty be backed by tangible material benefits, now their saying fuck it, we will rely purely on psychological manipulation instead.
Indeed, the concessions were given because there was a fear of USSR as an alternative model. Now they've managed to convince Europeans that Russia is the second coming of nazi Germany, and they're using that fear to dismantle the social safety net that the oligarchs resented having to accommodate this whole time.
Yeah, it's like their transitioning from a commodity backed currency to a fiat currency instead except with social compliance instead. Instead of having people's loyalty be backed by tangible material benefits, now their saying fuck it, we will rely purely on psychological manipulation instead.