Masha Gessen : What Is to Be Done When There Is Nothing to Be Done

What Is to Be Done When There Is Nothing to Be Done
Masha Gessen & Andrey Babitsky in conversation
The feeling of helplessness and deprivation of agency pervade authoritarian societies; in fact, these are necessary conditions for these societies to persist, in Russia and elsewhere. As we both believe the feelings are ungrounded and there is always hope, we are going to talk about the ways to bring change and discuss the theory and practice behind our humble optimism. What - if anything - does work and can it still be done in the midst of a genocidal war?

[@JuliusFawcett]

good chat

[@rickgoranowski9428]

"[T]he opportunist rearguard will be “replaced” by the genuine vanguard of the most revolutionary class:" Neo-Leninist boots on the ground

[@vetavoilman2848]

😂

[@krzysztofkietzman3332]

I listened to the entire thing, though I'm not sure why, as it achieves nothing and contributes nothing whatsoever. As long as you're not there in Russia breaking down rail lines and setting fires, you're doing nothing, it's just pointless talk.

[@constantin88]

so you are doing nothing, is that correct?

[@krzysztofkietzman3332]

@@constantin88 I'm not Russian, I'm not obligated.

[@constantin88]

@@krzysztofkietzman3332 this person is american too

[@Protagonist369]

@@krzysztofkietzman3332 are you Polish or American? If you are, did you set fire when your army forces invaded and occupied Iraq? If you did not, you are no better then and have no right to judge really... Russian government decided it needs a war because of national security reasons and people on the other side are rightfully unhappy about that, but when we start moralizing it turns into hypocrisy very quickly very often :(

[@krzysztofkietzman3332]

@@Protagonist369 You whatabouters are so funny. The US did not go into Iraq with the intent of eradicating a whole people, whereas that is the outright goal of Russia. There is no point in speaking to you, since you're so full of shit.