Prof. Kotkin: "Russia: Back to the USSR or Back to the Tsarist Empire?"

[@carltauber2939]

The audio quality is truly appalling! Professor Kotkin deserves far better.

[@simonargall5508]

Fine here..

[@18_rabbit]

yep! i have seen /heard Albats in prior vid also horrific sound quality, drove me nuts, though fascinating material w/ Masha Gesen

[@DoctorVinnieBoombatz]

Guys, you're having Kotkin stop by, let's get the audio figured out, yeah?

[@WorldJazz59]

This discussion is wonderful, but as someone whose brother-in-law was disappeared in Berdyansk', Ukraine by Russians and whose nephew - his son, served in the Ukraine military and now lives in Kyiv, I want to comment. I am frustrated by many things in western discussions of this nightmare, but among the most important, I am frustrated by some of what seem to be the principal issues: Russia has now declared that four huge sections of Ukraine are now parts of Russia, so at least in Putin's twisted mind, the deaths in those provinces of Ukraine are Russian deaths, and many Russians, even before the Kursk invasion by Ukraine, are Russian deaths. Why is it that Putin's declaration in the Russian constitution that these four huge sections of Ukraine are now parts of Russia not elicited more outrage in the free world? This should be discussed every day and should be a part of every discussion of the war in Ukraine and Russia, including this one.

[@AdamBechtol]

Mmmm

[@henriikkak2091]

I feel your pain as someone who lives in the same time zone as Ukraine. I see myself as a Westerner although I live east of Kyiv... Unfortunately, it's because the West and the rest suffer from the same issue as Russia, although arguably less so: They have trouble seeing Russia's democratic neighbors as independent and sovereign.

[@aorihanazari524]

@@henriikkak2091 It's less about lack of recognition of independence and sovereignty (our NATO enlargement despite russian protests shows that the west understands independence/sovereignty), it's the pushback the west would receive that it collectively doesn't think it wants to handle. There's war weariness and exhaustion in the US, few want to send their family members to die for other people's war. And no one wants a nuclear war. So while the west understands these countries' sovereignty and its importance, security and lack of conflict (ie. material and incorporeal well-being) supersedes the abstract notions of independence. Other people don't always want to die for others. I think that's understandable.

[@vaultsjan]

You think Swiss banker cares about your brother-in-law? Or soviet expat now living and voting in Germany?

[@Traisas]

@@aorihanazari524 Very insightful 👌 I agree with you (and am sympathetic to the initial comment). People talk about this as if it's an easy/simple decision to go to war. In reality there is a HUGE number of things to consider., and nuance.

[@elmirmisir-zada8470]

I see Stephen Kotkin on the title I click

[@gmw3083]

Gotta keep those narrative buckets filled

[@JohnDorian-j7x]

@@gmw3083 Such as?

[@gmw3083]

@@JohnDorian-j7x See; Joti Brar on Garland Nixon from last week.

[@gmw3083]

@@JohnDorian-j7x type in 'imperialism: decadent and doomed'. Enter. Such as....

[@daydays12]

@@gmw3083 ?????

[@mattcat83]

14 minutes of preamble is just too much.

[@ch1m1ch0nga]

Need chapter breaks if they're gonna persist with this format, yes!

[@NineInchTyrone]

Vain assholes

[@nattygsbord]

That is why I don't bother watching university of california lectures.. 30 minutes of introduction of the speaker. 5 minutes of talk from the speaker about the scientific topic at hand.

[@ezado01]

Thanks! You saved me 14 minutes of my time. 😊

[@hikerJohn]

@@ch1m1ch0nga They have "chapter" breaks in this but it's such poor audio, surly SOMEONE did a better job of recording this I hope.

[@marcionbruno8197]

Kotkin's answer from 32 is an absolute masterclass, an off-the-cuff mini lecture that explains Putin and Russia better than anyone else could or has

[@raginald7mars408]

KOTT KINIST $$$$

[@DaShooter12]

Kotkin is a real treat. thank you Davis Center for hosting him again, and sharing this seminar online with the world.

[@alesh2275]

Horrible sound quality

[@rocknroll368]

Professor Steven Kotkin can give all the longest expkanations he wants. He is excellent in his analysis and presentation.

[@Sakur1686]

Kotkin sounds excellent only if you are a putinist yourself or don't know anything about Putin's Russia.

[@bernardzsikla5640]

​​@@Sakur1686interesting perspective on a academic that has spent the majority of his professional life studying Stalin.

[@thecount1001]

@@bernardzsikla5640 and speaks Russian and lived in Russia.

[@Sakur1686]

@@bernardzsikla5640 Kotkin is an American academic and he studied only Stalin's history. Moreover, his Russian is quite limited, clearly not enough to fully understand complicated Soviet newspeak. If you listen to a Russian American historian Yuri Felshtinsky, who has been studying the history of the USSR and of Russia all his life, he will tell you a very different story about Putin. And listen to Bill Browder who has been investigating Putin's crimes more than a decade.

[@bernardzsikla5640]

@@Sakur1686 What makes Kotkin a Putinist in your perspective? I have listened to Kotkin perspective on Putin and he describes Putin as the latest reincarnation of unfulfilled Russian greatness in world power.

[@mauricezacchi6041]

Safe to skip the first 10 min

[@TheDudeKicker]

The first 14

[@irinajosefson182]

Safe to skip the whole thing all together.

[@thinktwice-me7ie]

Yeah, Kotkin hates her and i have problems listening to her, too.

[@telluwide5553]

Skip the pretentious academic as well, since she can't string together an articulate sentence to save her life, lol..

[@davidanderson9664]

Kotkin is the ultimate boss. Read all his books, listen to him every time he speaks. Unmatched. D.A., J.D., NYC

[@JohnKobaRuddy]

did you read the part about there being no footage of Stalin walking?! he gave a talk at the Wilson institute and made the bizarre easy to debunk claim.

[@CommunityServiceBand]

@@JohnKobaRuddyNot in Soviet broadcasting there wasn’t (which was his whole point about cultivating the personality). The footage of Stalin walking is shot by media the Soviets couldn’t control.

[@CommunityServiceBand]

Agreed. O.W.L. N., G

[@homo-ludens]

He knows how to build up tension, like in an adventurous story. An Ukrainian journalist Interviews Russian POW and he tells the same, they believe in the greatness of Russia.

[@GMo31-b6g]

Oh how I would like to see a Mearsheimer - Kotkin - Timothy Snyder debate!! Someone make it happen please!

[@kladblok2729]

Why. Mearsheimers points make no sense anyway so why bother.

[@be12]

@@kladblok2729 You meant to say "Kotkin"

[@michaelyeiser1565]

Kotkin debating Kotkin is more interesting. Mearsheimer is a contrarianism fetishist. Snyder is a neocon hack.

[@Jack_Schularick]

Problem is they have nothing to talk about. Had they had something, such an obvious debate would have happened years ago. It's like the two great rabbis who by chance sat in the same railway compartment and said nothing for hours. "We hoped for a great debate" said one of their disciples at last. "We have nothing to debate about. He knows everything and I know everything." - said one rabbi.

[@be12]

​@@Jack_Schularick That's a nice story, but doesn't illustrate the real problem: one of these two fellas has been appearing on a bunch of KZbin channels on Zoom while the other has been interviewed mostly by university / think tanks. You could take a guess which one's which. The more establishment-y outlets will not give Mearsheimer airtime, especially not against their pet Kotkin.

[@C4rb0neum]

I have an engineering degree, but the more I listen to historians the more I realize how they are the real badasses. I have the feeling it’s hard to fool an engineer but it’s even harder to fool a historian.

[@vredacted3125]

Something important to know, for all who interested in history and/or support Ukraine: Rus' ought not to be confused with modern “Russia”, which derives its name from the Rus' but historically is a completely different state, which almost all its existence was at war with the Rus'. Just like the Holy Roman Empire was actually Germany, “Russia” is actually Muscovy, despite their best attempts to convince everybody otherwise. Its name “Russia" received only in the 18th century, when Peter I simply changed Muscovy’s name into the “All Russian Empire” (Russia originates from Rosia, name used by the Greek Orthodox Clergy in regards to Rus') Under the reign of Cathrine II Muscovites where even punished for continuing to identify as Muscovites, and were forced to call themselves Russian. Lands that Russia (Muscovy) claims were part of the original Rus', but actually weren't, are Novgorod, Suzdal, and Ryazan, since in historical texts of XI-XII centuries they are mentioned as separate entities from Rus'. They can be considered parts of extended Rus', although their culture was distinct from main Rus'. In 1493, Muscovite duke Ivan III appointed himself to be the Great Ruler of All Rus'. No other kings acknowledged that. From that point on Muscovy started to make false claims on Rus' ownership. “Russia” is an offshoot of Ukraine and not the other way round, despite what Soviet and Russian (Muscovite) historians have been trying to say for years. A Slavicised Finnic, then later, Mongolized offshoot. Kyiv was a developed cultured capital when Moscow was just another swamp village. Moreover, in the Italian sources of the 15th century it is likewise mentioned, that Russia is bordered by Poland to the west, Lithuania and Livonia to the north, and *Muscovy* to the east, further proving that Russia historically speaking, is an exonym of Ukraine, that was stolen by Muscovy. Germany used to call itself the Holy Roman Empire, that didn’t mean they became the Romans, and all of a sudden had a right to claim whole of Italy and its history, but yet, that’s exactly what Russia (Muscovy) did in regards to Rus'-Ukraine, which is a horrible injustice!

[@Johnwick52923]

A lot of yapping at the beginning. Kotkin is a smart guy, very insightful

[@alexander3543]

Again it’s a shame that a Russian is asking an American what the hell happened to us. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

[@niccolomurtas3691]

When you have in the comments section somebody accusing you of being a Putin's fan and others of being a nato--boy, you know you did a good job. Tahnks mr. Kotkin

[@gmw3083]

Any comments that call Kotkin a putin fan mean that he must have spilled a few actual facts.

[@niccolomurtas3691]

@@gmw3083 yeah, and it works from the other side to :)

[@gmw3083]

@@niccolomurtas3691 I actually listened to most of this. Kotkin gets a lot right here, but his opinions are very biased.

[@TheFaveteLinguis]

​@@gmw3083 in what direction?

[@gmw3083]

@@TheFaveteLinguis Did you not listen to any of it? Are you not familiar with Kotkin at all? He's a defender of the zyofascist western oppressor class.

[@iaKz79]

Очень интересно. Спасибо огромное за беседу и за новую серию лекций.

[@vonries]

The acoustic quality is not very good for being a room designed for speakers. It is ashamed. I wanted to hear this. Thanks for trying.

[@dylanthomas12321]

Get a sound engineer. Jesus. A bunch of careless amateurs running this event!

[@letdaseinlive]

What Kotkin doesn't get quite right is why Putin rose is the ability to lie and seem sincere. That's what Kotkin's confused about. It's not "random." It's a kind of existential psychotic presence. Simple as that.

[@kitten-inside]

It goes further. They are capable of believing their own lies.

[@letdaseinlive]

​​@@kitten-inside Yea, Kristen Stewart pointed out something utterly relevant here (as, of course, she is wont so to do.) Steinbeck describes a case in East of Eden of the character Cyrus. Who believes his own fictional histories of his doings during the American Civil War. But, as she cautions, Tony Soprano and, a fortiori, Mr Putin, operate somewhat differently.

[@frederikruis274]

Kotkin gets that right to and explains there is 700.000 of KGB folks, so it remains random.

[@homo-ludens]

No, he explains how Putin invites the former boss of Gazprom and presses everything out of him and up to this meeting they had a nice, friendly relationship.

[@rickyiriarte2097]

@@letdaseinlive Prove any of your diatribe

[@miamithijs3579]

Harvard, a place where some of the smartest people of the world can be found. Yet they cant figure out sound and video quality. Kotkin deserves the best.

[@mat3714]

Always a pleasure to hear mr kotkin, im in the middle of his stalin bio and i must say, loved the message at the end of this conversation.

[@margottomasik2108]

Can listen to Kotkin all day long. Thank you 😊

[@CurtOntheRadio]

Ask him a question and you might have to.

[@gmw3083]

When all the questions are the wrong questions it's easy for Kotkin to give the wrong answers..

[@copleysq]

Russia must accept being Russia like Spain accepts being Spain---no more empire.

[@michaelyeiser1565]

It took Spain a century, after its fall in the Napoleonic era, to accept its fate.

[@paulzx2000]

Hi from Russia. We give up our imperial ambitions next day the US did. What Mr. Kotkin says is: Russians, please do not mess with our global hegemony, you are not up to this task. Fine. But US not up for their task either. Its too much, they are overextended now, chasing the chimera of Pax Americana. It doesn't take too much power to knock them down.

[@Vmurmur]

@paulzx2000 😛🤣 how could you interfere with western hegemony by invading a few little countries? You are ONLY a mediocre military power, and anything else. We are the power house. Don't be sad... you can drink vodka.

[@seanlynch6532]

@@VmurmurUS has to realise they are now way down the list of great military powers. They don’t have the means to defeat Russia or China in a conventional war. Pushing the west’s imperialist agenda to break up and exploit Russia’s great mineral resources will lead to global destruction. Insanity.

[@gingerfox7143]

​@Vmurmur you spoke like a true imperialist. Usa! Usa!

[@jlziux]

Might be one of the best analysis of Russia and this conflict I have ever heard

[@Rjsjrjsjrjsj]

What a pleasure slogging through 15 minutes of introduction to finally hear Stephen talk. 🙄

[@photographyandthecreativeyou]

Always enjoy listening to Kotkin!

[@chrismiller5198]

but not long-winded introductions.

[@JohnKobaRuddy]

did you hear the part about there being no footage of Stalin walking?! he gave a talk at the Wilson institute and made the bizarre easy to debunk claim

[@gmw3083]

Gotta love Kotkin style propwash.

[@gmw3083]

​@@JohnKobaRuddyPlenty of what Kotkin claims is easily debunked

[@rwx421]

Thank you prof. Kotkin. Insightful as always.

[@analander9222]

It has been 7 years, when's the third stalin book gonna come out?

[@erichodge567]

Stalin is a very big subject.

[@huna1950]

Listening to this is the best sleepless night I’ve had in ages Thing with listening to Stephen’s work is you then get a lot of the ahem KZbin influencers coming up in your feed that are often insufferable lol Thanks for this folks

[@CurtOntheRadio]

Kotkin's as serious and amusing as ever. Thanks!

[@jema9735]

S. Kotkin is such a great mind. I could listen to him for hours and hours. Often listen to his speeches again over time and his wisdom doesn't age...

[@Thomas...191]

Kotkin brigade assemble

[@Lodimerg]

Russia should get back to natural borders of Moscow administrative region borders.

[@bobsingh7949]

one of best is Prof. Kotkin.

[@hoserrlol]

Sound quality was off, but this was one of Kotkin's best!!

[@mihaidumitrescu1325]

I could listen to Prof. Kotkin for ages and ages and ages and then... just start all over again! He is my very erudite grandfather I am not lacking right now. (on top, I am from Romania and fear russian governments deeply!)

[@donfleming3534]

Last 5 minutes renew my faith in the professor. Clear-eyed, non-aligned assessment of political, economic and military positions of the great powers of today's moment. It took a while, but he will eventually bury the nail. All my criticisms that follow were previous to the final segment and should be read as independent of this conclusive statement. Thank you Prof. Kotkin.

[@1sweettime207]

Prof. Stephen Kotkin understand Stalin and Russian. Very interesting and educational.

[@fpxy00]

Not at all. Very narrow understanding of Russian geopolitics and its history.

[@effexon]

hope Lex Fridman or rogan or someone could discuss over 4hours with him to really delve into those topics... granted neither of these 2 have challenged Kotkin level person properly.

[@18_rabbit]

@@effexon and there's a reason. Even Lex may have trouble, or would need to do a TON of reading first, for good reason. Kotkin has deeeep broad knowledge and analytical ability re it. He's a tour-de-force and powerhouse of mind.

[@effexon]

@@18_rabbit Konstantin Kisin from Triggernometry could challenge despite not being as read or scholar of any kind but he has such drive in these aspects and follows current world events. Lot of academics know a lot but are too careful to challenge or say unpleasant things in public or even in debate, which shows as not knowing things. Kotkin seems this kind of person, he would enjoy proper challenge in debate. Very few in public space have this crossover to be "new 60minutes" and not just entertainers with some news sprinkled here and there (Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman to some extent).

[@HundreadD]

The insight about the parallel between how the Gazprom and Prigozhin situation was handled by a Putin several decades apart was brilliant. Seems obvious in hindsight because the most brilliant insights are often ones that seem to simple they'd be overlooked

[@henriikkak2091]

Finland wasn't party to Marshall Aid AND paid huge war reparations to the Soviet Union. No excuses

[@InternationalEnergy-e9u]

Wow what an analysis and resolutions, wonderful ❤ thanks for the same

[@randomdude7384]

The rule of law and reciprocity and Russia mix as well as water and fire. Russia has never had them, and it never will.

[@AlexdaCunha]

For some reason Kotkin is an Historian. He is much better analysing the past than the present or predicting the future. Things are not so nice as he makes it in Russia... and we will be seeing it quite soon

[@telluwide5553]

This woman needs an articulation and speech therapist cause I could barely understand a word of what she said.... Just let Kotkin do his thing. That's why we are here...

[@aorihanazari524]

It's called an accent, and people who were born and lived extensively in other countries tend to have them. Maybe try not to be xenophobic?

[@telluwide5553]

@aorihanazari524 Well Mr./ms. or whatever gender pronouns you call yourself Woke, she should get a job where her communication skills aren't required.... and I'll be as xenophobic as I want. It's called freedom of speech. So piss off!

[@zacklewis342]

@@aorihanazari524 It's not xenophobic to want to understand what someone is saying, snowflake. She needs to try harder if she lives and works here.

[@erichodge567]

Let's hear your Russian, buddy...

[@ReindelBohinc]

Okay, I’ve always scratched my head about the obsession around the kislux book totes and their practicality, but this one is adorable!! Congratulations

[@margottomasik2108]

Prof Kotkin is so correct - Europe does not like Russia because Poland is in Europe. German would welcome Russia but Poland is on the way plus Baltic states

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

+ Finland , Sweden , Belarus, Romania, Norway hate Moscow imperialism

[@rinatst.petersburg6511]

​@@hybridarmyoffreeworld Moscow emperialism!? 😅

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

@@rinatst.petersburg6511 If you are pro- Moscow you are anti-humanity...

[@joythought]

​​@@rinatst.petersburg6511 yes the Duchy of Muscovy is still the core that sucks the wealth out of the provinces. So yes. The last 700 years since Moscow became the tax collector for the Mongols has been about which neighbour that the Kremlin in Moscow has decided to subjugate.

[@ant-space]

@@rinatst.petersburg6511 Yes. As russia is a failed empire.

[@jameslawrence3666]

Another insightful talk from Kotkin, thank you!!! BUT Stephen, please stop saying the Russian economy is doing well, interest rates approaching 20% and inflation in excess of that, no workers left to increase the war machine or troops for the meat grinder. The Grey Fleet are very venerable to inspections in the Baltic Sea, let's face it most of those tankers would not pass an MOT!! Most of their oil is from freezing regions that have to keep the oil flowing at all times or the entire infrastructure will freeze and crack. Finally there is the fact that paying a million people to dig s hole and then another million to fill it in again is GDP worth having, this is literally what is happening in Ukraine with tanks and munitions blowing up at an amazing rate in Ukraine....(and now in Kursk)

[@gmw3083]

You're clueless

[@keirswaine2183]

Russian economic prospects look terrible in the long term but we may underestimate the capacity of the Russian people to suffer and endure endless trauma for the sake of the continuity of its empire.

[@gmw3083]

@@keirswaine2183 They're being attacked by the zyomurican empire. Plenty in DC have said the quiet part out loud. It's only lost on those who don't deal well with reality..

[@gmw3083]

@@keirswaine2183 also clueless

[@peterharriman2372]

Putin: "Make Russia Great Again"

[@stephenhill545]

I think you mean "larger".

[@jshepard152]

@@stephenhill545 The world's largest country needs more... land.

[@wolfgangschwarzhaupt3010]

what a wonderful expert….these are the experts we do need more….

[@daydays12]

I can listen to Stephen Kotkin for hours

[@paulh2468]

Kotkin is the best. His comparison of Germany, Japan and France becoming peaceful democracies is great. He’s mistaken about France as it was also fully defeated militarily in 1815. I conclude that Russia will be forced into democracy by being fully defeated in a future war, and occupied by NATO forces. This is the overarching historical pattern. Democracy and capitalism are always far more powerful than authoritarian systems.

[@davidbanks4168]

Oh fantastic! Thank you so much for making this available

[@onethreeify]

that woman has a phd from harvard. how the mighty have fallen.

[@gingerfox7143]

Degree mills are what these ivy leagues are all about. The students are miseducated on every level.

[@JRPetruk]

Her field is Russian studies, not English.

[@onethreeify]

@@JRPetruk its funny how your reply shows the exact problem with the world today. its clear listening to two minutes of her that she doesn't understand basic premises of political science or history, but shes a foreigner from the target country so "she must be smart and knowledgable, it's just that her english is bad" and then she's handed a phd on a silver plate and any criticism of her lack of understanding of basic principles in how the world actual operates is handwaved away as "you can't attack her because her english is bad." but whatever man. you keep thinking that she's giving positive contributions to political science. i mean the world since the 1990s have definitely headed in the right direction under the guidance of your ideology. just look at how well you kept russia pinned down... oh my bad, well, let's look at keeping nukes from north korea... oh well, at least we kept terrorist attacks away from europe, ops, my bad, well at least presidential candidates aren't shot at by terrorists, ops sorta happened twice didn't it. yeah, but the ideology definitely works and her *only* problem is english, definitely.

[@JRPetruk]

@onethreeify I'm sorry but I frankly can't understand what you are trying to say either. I can tell you are upset about something but it doesn't seem to be even remotely related to the subject of the video or my comment. What are you talking about?

[@onethreeify]

@@JRPetruk i am talking about the fact that that she is not knowledgeable, not good at drawing conclusions, not quick witted, no capacity for logical thought: not smart, whatever you want to call it. and yet she has a phd from one of the most prestigious universities in the world. you then defend her (and by extension the status quo) with the argument "she is an immigrant so you are not allowed to question her." yes, obviously i am upset because this is clearly not the first time someone is handed a phd not because of their merit but because of their ethnicity, and the go-to defense is literally "she is an immigrant." like you literally could have said: "what specific points do you disagree with her on?" or "i actually think she has made valid points on [insert issue relating to russian politics], you should read her article from 20XX". but no, the go-to defense is "she is an immigrant so automatically she must be right because immigrants are always right." and for the record, english is not my first language either.

[@johanswede8200]

He is simply the best❤

[@bookpro9466]

Russia was supposed to be 400 million people in 2000 (looking from 1900). Russia is firmly on its way to 50 millions. What next Gorbachev? Why to bother if there would by any "next Gorbachev" in the country of 50 million people.

[@malashukla9292]

Insightful and educative

[@lindablake8799]

❤Thank you, both, very much!

[@altonmarcello1574]

God, I love this man. Prof Kotkin is an American treasure.

[@JRPetruk]

I give the Davis Center thanks for sponsoring Professor Kotkin.

[@ioannisdimakis7460]

@altonmarcello1574 Don't forget another American treasure. Prinston s professor Fukuyama. This still Prinston s professor has ended history.

[@thewolfpack5290]

By that logic, why shouldn't Italy, Spain, Germany, Turkey, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and everyone else that can afford it become a nuclear power and dictate its wishes and demand "special" treatment? A serious question.

[@mryouben]

Tx Mr. Kotkin

[@levvernik2590]

A fascinating discussion by one of the gurus of modern history.

[@letdaseinlive]

The Prigozhin stuff is interesting.

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

yes, 'Decolonization of Moscow🇷🇺 empire is the only way to end its imperialism', And I don’t mean Putin´s imperialism, but Moscow imperialism in general , from Solzhenitsyn and Brodsky to Navalny and Dugin.

[@el_Litwin]

+1

[@DevastationMtrsports]

Very arrogane to say, you are the problem

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

@@DevastationMtrsports "Благодаря невероятно успешной внешней политике путина у нас всегда будут полные холодильники! " - заявил директор Ростовского морга 🇷🇺 ...

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

@@DevastationMtrsports " Saddam Putsein the Great Loser" is rapidly sending Muscovy back to 15c borders .

[@rinatst.petersburg6511]

​@@hybridarmyoffreeworld what you've said is as sick as you may be)

[@wendylee7542]

Professor Kotkin, when women choose to not bring children into a harsh, embattled and punitory existence - who can change that into the opposite? Women say that men can. If they want to. And they don’t. Debate over.

[@tommorrissey4726]

Kotkin is fantastic, as historian, analyst, and explainer.

[@ericwillis777]

People believe their convictions because they 'perceive' that they deliver for them, not the other way round.

[@forlornhope2156]

That final monologue was worthy of any great speech title

[@alaza4845]

Gee that lady has a way of making a Soviet-style long-winded introductory eulogy that is 90% vacuous and 10% bizarrely exaggerated.

[@jshepard152]

14:32 Lots of fluff in the beginning. The Kotkin lecture begins here.

[@HomeFromFarAway]

this was so long... I wish it was longer 😅❤

[@ruthwolfer4154]

That was really exiting to listen, thank you !

[@Yerbol_Q]

To think that Russian civilization and culture are in no way connected with the figure of Putin or to compare France with Russia is a major mistake by the professor. It’s not genetics; it’s a cultural code. Even the best Russian liberals, like Albats, who oppose Putin or authoritarianism, do not want to hear anything about the problems of Russia's indigenous peoples. They are fine with and not outraged by the fact that since the 15th century, this system has thrived on the ruthless exploitation of resources from both Russia’s regions and its neighbors. This is ingrained at the cultural level and therefore continues to reproduce itself century after century. And it will, until this monster finally falls apart.

[@el_Litwin]

Спасибо ВСУ за пропавших без вести орков! Луганск с вами!

[@rinatst.petersburg6511]

Orcs are yukees, right?

[@bjrnhjortshjandersen1286]

Interesting reflections and logic analysis.

[@danhurley9028]

Interesting comments on biology. Also interesting in that we already have farming and ranching methods that work successfully without any additives and use much less land. Unfortunately even Mr kotkin seems not to know this

[@LLlap]

You know Apbats calls the invaders "our boys" and she said she "remains loyal to the russian flag". You are playing into the FSB agents.

[@urbansenicar81]

Russia big. Very big. They can't give up their "special country" status. They would give up Russia. They are special. Big. Very big.

[@simonargall5508]

Always good, ty.

[@TheDudeKicker]

In the future, please cut out all the crap during the first 14 minutes. I'm surprised half your audience didn't leave. We came to hear SK, not you.

[@MandalayMoore33]

THAT man with his 'uh' every other second was annoying as _hell_ He needs to listen to himself and work on his public deliveries. Just irritating and a _drag_ just waiting for him to stop talking.

[@edwardmclaughlin7935]

So there are just two options for Russia are there - both of them reversions? Could there not be a way forward that is not either of those?

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

backgound : После 2-й Мировой войны 10-мильонная Белaрусь не досчиталась около 3-х мильонов своих жителей, однако околь 2-х миллионов были убиты еще до войны органами коммунистического НКВД. В Беларуси физически уничтожили 70 процентов всех белaруских писателей, убили ученых и художников. (Труппа Третьего Белорусского Государственного театра Владислава Голубка была арестована в полном составе. Почти все были расстреляны.) Убивали по национальному признаку. Ради этого был придуман ярлык "нацдем" (это значит -- национальный демократ, хотя такой партии не существовало). Этот ярлык приклеивали ко всем белорусам, которых сталинисты планировали уничтожить. В недрах НКВД была придумана несуществующая антикоммунистическая организация СВБ ("союз освобождения Белaруси"). Под придуманный фантом энкавэдисты проводили аресты, вели воображаемое следствие, допрашивали, пытали, судили, потом ссылали в paсeю и расстреливали невинных людей. После Рижского сговора в 1921 году Беларусь разделили между Польшей и paсeей. Границу раздела провели недалеко от Менска. Существовал тайный приказ НКВД уничтожать всё белорусское население вдоль границы. Российские аккупанты хотели сделать здесь безлюдную зону. Уничтожение осуществляли пограничные войска. Довереным лицам выдавали винтовку и лопату. Когда такой солдат-пограничник встречал в безлюдном месте (на дороге, в поле, в лесу) одинокого белоруса или белоруску, или ребенка, он стрелял человека, тут же лопатой выкапывал яму и засыпал труп. Такова была инструкция. Люди в деревнях не так боялись "человека с ружьём", как солдата с лопатой. (Эти факты опубликованы в белaруской печати в начале 90-х годов.) В 30-х годах на 95-99 процентов (практически полностью) была уничтожена (сослана и расстреляна) белaруская коммунистическо-партийная и советская администрация. Уничтожали даже директорат и хозяйственных руководителей. На должности убитых администраторов и коммунистических начальников-белорусов присылали “русских” из paсeии. “Русские” 🇷🇺 (так называемые "выдвиженцы") приезжали в Беларусь, занимали освобожденные должности, получали льготы, имущество, квартиры и первое, что они делали -- закрывали белорусские школы, переводили их на “русский” язык, чтобы их дети могли учиться, не обременяя себя изучением, как они говорили, "никому ненужного" белaруского языка. Таким образом оккупанты создавали в Беларуси "русскоязычное” население". Этноцид, лингвацид, мнемацид и геноцид проводзились большевиками одновременно. Уничтожение белaрусов рaсeйским НКВД продолжалось и во времена немецкой аккупации. В июне 1941 года в первые дни войны коммунисты расстреляли в тюрьмах и на этапах тысячи заключенных. Только в Брестской крепости, где была страшная тюрьма НКВД, всех арестованных ликвидировать не успели, часть из них разбежалась. Тем временем большая группа надзирателей и функционеров НКВД была заблокирована в крепости немцами. Они сидели там около месяца, пока не вымерли. Лет через 20 после войны коммунисты придумали легенду о "героической обороне" Брестской крепости. Обращает на себя внимание тот факт, что широкое советское партизанское движение было организовано только в Беларуси и частично -- на этнических белaруских землях, которые были в составе paсeии (Смоленщина, Брянщина). В оккупированой России партизанского движения не было. Почему? Да потому, что продолжал действовать план уничтожения белорусской нации. Москва, используя органы НКВД, втянула массы гражданского белорусского населения в войну против немцев, и этим подставила белорусов под немецкий удар. Необходимое дело борьбы исходило из коварного замысла и осуществлялось подлыми методами. (Сталин хотел получить двойную выгоду.) Энкавэдисты специально около белорусской деревени убивали немца или делали другую провокацию, чтобы вызвать карательную операцию гитлеровцев (которые обычно сжигали всю деревню, чаще всего -- вместе с людьми). Таким образом, кстати, в результате специальной провокации советских партизан была сожжена и известная Хатынь, которую коммунисты потом в 70-х годах разрекламировали на весь мир как типичную жертву фашистского зверства. В результате такой коммуно-фашистской совместной "работы" в Беларуси сожгли более 9 тысяч деревень. Поэтому к концу войны, в результате специальной операции НКВД, многие белaaруские командиры были посланы на смерть, отстранены от командования, убиты и репрессированы. Их места занимали русские, присланные из Мосвы, и верные энкавэдисты. Летом 1944 года, когда "красная армия" заняла Беларусь, “русские” провели мобилизацию в армию на белaруской территории. Десятки тысяч молодых белaруских мужчин, почти без подготовки, бросили на передовую линию фронта. “pусские” командиры поднимали их в ненужные атаки под огонь немецких пулеметов, не дав даже оружия в руки, или с винтовками, но без патронов. Они гибли тысячами, как трава под косой. А те, что бежали назад, попадали под пули энкавэдистских "заградотрядов". Впрочем, заградотряды стреляли и в спину. Так продолжалось уничтожение белaрусов на войне, руками немцев и “русских” одновременно. Как говорили коммунисты, "в борьбе за советскую родину". В 40-х годах русские вывезли в Сибирь и там замучили всех лесников и так называемых "кулаков" из Западной Беларуси. Вывозили вагонами, по разнорядках.

[@rinatst.petersburg6511]

I don't have time to read all that)). Will you next try to say there are no haters of Russians, no ukro nationalists, russophobes, etc?

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

@@rinatst.petersburg6511 If you are pro- Moscow you are anti-humanity...

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

@@rinatst.petersburg6511 There is a reason why in Finnish verb "Ryssiä" (Muscovy ) , roughly meaning "to totally fail something".

[@Jack_Schularick]

@@hybridarmyoffreeworld Finnish reminds of finish :) You started. 🙃

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

@@Jack_Schularick " Saddam Putsein the Great Loser" is rapidly sending Muscovy back to 15c borders .

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

" Saddam Putsein the Great Loser" is rapidly sending Muscovy back to 15c borders .

[@MountainMusicRadio]

Rapidly? We call that dumpster baby delusion

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

@@MountainMusicRadio 'Decolonization of Moscow🇷🇺 empire is the only way to end its imperialism', And I don’t mean Putin´s imperialism, but Moscow imperialism in general , from Solzhenitsyn and Brodsky to Navalny and Dugin.

[@Serbinator_Dominator]

Russia has no issues with being a junior partner of China, they don’t care about the term “ Vassal state” Why? Two things: One Russia owns largest natural resources which China needs, and in that way they will never consider themselves to be a vassal state in first place. 2nd Russia is not afraid that China wants to break up Russia, historically these 2 nations have never really been at war and Chinese philosophy is totally different from the Anglo Saxon westerners. Russia is absolutely does not trust the west because they tried to invade them twice and even after Soviet Union collapsed they look at US/UK as aggressive Nato towards their borders + openly talking about wanting to break up Russia. Russia trusts China historically and not the west

[@passerbyp8531]

Very stupid to trust China.

[@MelGibsonMovie]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Jensth]

China could decide to invade Russia, because right now it does not have the resources to defend itself.

[@private445]

And to add, China advocates for win-win cooperation. The West doesn't know what that is, Russia finally got it.

[@UserxxXxx-2030]

Not sure if “trust” is appropriate to describe ANY political status between any countries , instead “mutual interests” and applies to certain time window , as the saying goes ; todays allies tomorrows foes , as Kotkin mentioned, increasingly China does NOT see its interests with Putin’s policies , regrettably avoiding saying Russia as it only represents culture and history , and its interests is geographical West , one can see recent dialog with Kim more active while the XI becoming less …

[@sbirchsbirch6232]

Buy some microphones please

[@davekijek2302]

Too good.

[@getevennow]

Closet Monarchists not Comrades

[@bookpro9466]

Why to teach the confirmation bias or mirroring in the russian spy schools when teaching how to poison door handles seems to be enough?

[@bdnevins]

2:06: Avionics are not jet engines. Avionics is aviation electronics.

[@sowelie1]

Kotking is interesting as video is grainy

[@glennmitchell9107]

Is deterrence too passive a plan, when with a little bit more aggression and focus, (still short of holocaust), the West could put the authoritarian regimes on the back foot? Be more proactive, and less reactive.

[@gingerfox7143]

The West is the authoritarian. They call themselves the "rules based international order." But no one knows what these"rules" are. In addition, it is not based on international "laws." They go around the globe and threaten governments with sanctions if these governments do not "obey. "

[@canadiangemstones7636]

America does what she can, with hands tied. Because the GOP now loves pootin, as do some in Italy, Hungary, Britain, France.

[@glennmitchell9107]

@@canadiangemstones7636 Nobody loves President Putin. He's not lovable. The people who appear to love Putin actually just hate the people who oppose Putin.

[@glennmitchell9107]

President Biden is not a Republican. Why is his failure to support Ukraine more forcefully the fault of the Republicans?

[@williamstewart7725]

Yes!! Kotkin unleashed.

[@eugene_dudnyk]

KGB agent Albats checks how effective the russian nuclear blackmailing is for American policy makers.

[@thinktwice-me7ie]

Stephen Kotkin hates this woman.Love the way he says YES YES while she rants. Awesme

[@maxsmart99]

Kotkin for Kongress! 💯

[@cjb8010]

I love his attitude and manner, but the more he describes “modern” Russia, the more he feeds the point that Russia is a permanent predator.

[@mirkodizdar3700]

the predator,freaks,psychos on this planet is the US

[@bdnevins]

1 hr 10 min: putin's foreign accounts: K's reasoning makes sense, however, he might have some foreign holdings disguised in a way that even Kremlin insiders could not penetrate. Whether he could leave Russia and survive even one month is an interesting question. Could he be the next Trotsky?

[@effexon]

he could if west does 180 maneuver to end war and decides he is good guy afterall in some agreement. western alliance has done that many times in past 40-50 years. sometimes country and leader is "ally", next day they can be enemy and warplanes are launching.

[@gingerfox7143]

Beau biden has corrupted funds from ukraine.

[@erichodge567]

Dr. Kotkin does not deal in happy talk, but you better listen...

[@BitcoinMeister]

Great point about cash flow over gdp for dictators.

[@donaldedward4951]

Begins about 14.20