Is Europe Hopelessly Brainwashed, Or Has It Always Been This Way?
We know that the campaign to demonize Russia for its invasion of Ukraine was both massive and well organized. One feels, however, that it was not just directed from the outside, say, from Washington. There was something rather genuine in the hostility of the European establishment, some inner suspicion or anymosity that had been triggered by this new chapter of Russia-West confrontation. What was it?
Great Britain likes to imagine itself as Russia's geopolitical rival. That's been the case ever since these two countries have defeated Napoleon. Fine. They are far from each other, not just geographically, but culturally, so one can understand their mutual mistrust. Furthermore, this British legacy clearly informs the United States; furthermore, the suspicion of Russia as a geopolitical rival has been re-enforced ever since Russia and US have defeated Nazi Germany. Fine, these countries are far removed from each other and have the right to suspect if not dislike each other.
But the places like France, Germany, Scandinavia? What's their problem? What can explain their rush to join the idiotic chorus and start pointing the accusing finger at the country that did so much to liberate Europe from Nazis? What can explain the urgency to introduce endless amount of self-destructive sanctions?
Russia’s propensity to wars and aggression? Well, western wars dwarf Russian wars. Be it the world wars, or the colonial wars, or the hot wars of Cold War (like Vietnam ) or the Middle Eastern wars?
I understand the venial or myopic German journalists, gullible academics and the green elites, whose level of understanding had been shaped by highly biased and primitive agenda of American Democratic Party. I can even understand some of the business people who sell mostly to the US, but what about the rest of the country? Don't they see that they are literary setting Europe back seventy years? Are they hoping for another Marshall Plan that would lift them up after WWII destruction? Well, it is not forthcoming. US public has zero appetite and even less material base to carry that plan out. I am not sure Americans have enough to keep afloat a few corrupt oligarchs and politicians in Ukraine, let alone the whole Europe.
Yet, the smug and limited German leader has the nerve to lecture everyone in Europe, including Serbs, on their need to sanction Russia and accept Kosovo. How delusional can one be?
I believe for the country to start acting stupid and against its own fundamental interests, there should be a symbiosis between its leaders and the general sentiment of the public.
Leaders used to restraint the public from its aggression, its greed, its smugness, its myopia. But now, leaders have decided that the way to lead is to pander to the masses and their vices. Let's compare Poland and Hungary. Hungarians have plenty of reasons to be angry at Russians (1956 invasion, anyone). Yet, rather than lacerate and pander to these memories, Victor Orban is doing something much more rational by engaging in trade with Russia. As opposed to the Polish leaders for example, who prefer to whip themselves and their public into frenzy of hatred and paranoia.
Ok, one can build a case that Poles had historically suffered from Russians, even though one can build a case that Poland had benefited from Russia as well. But the French? The Germans? The Norwegians? Where is their hatred coming from? Why are their population and their politicians so eager to embrace each other in the orgasm of Russophobia? As opposed to the Italians, for example.
Ultimately, I am afraid, it all boils down to what cultural observers used to call, philistinism, or more socially oriented thinkers: bourgeoisie. This elusive European quality, that would put off a lot of Russian thinkers when they would visit Europe and spent time observing it. That sense of feeling oneself right at home in one's home. Spiritual satiety and smugness that looks with disdain at everyone who dares to challenge the hard-won status quo.
Lost between their giant spaces, Russians are ultimately nomads, as was claimed by such diverse thinkers as Chaadaev, Dostoevsky, Blok or Zamiatin. They are not at home in this material abode. They want more. Or less. They move and search. They refuse to be imprisoned by things and possessions. That's a sure is an anathema for an average European citizen.
So any attempt of Russia to disturb the established status quo triggers that deep seated trauma of a settler against a nomad: it took me so long to build my little hut/village/town and you want to reorganize and unsettle it? No! Just get out of here and leave. We don’t want your kind here!
Of course, the seekers and spiritual nomads of every country have always looked at Russia with admiration. Rilke has stated that, "there is a country called, God, and it shares its border with Russia." But seekers rarely set the tone in worldly affairs. They are shunned and sanctioned even with greater intensity than the Russians.
