Putinism: the ideology

Speakers: Professor Anne Applebaum
Recorded on Monday 28 January 2013 in New Theatre, East Building.
Containing elements of managed democracy and corporate capitalism -- and reflecting the culture and values of the 1980s KGB -- Putinism is now taught to Russian children and propagated in the media. It has an ostensible goal: along with protecting the power and wealth of Putin and his inner circle, it proposes to make Russia strong and feared again.
Anne Applebaum is the Philippe Roman Chair in History and International Affairs for the 2012-13 academic year.

[@therealbettyswollocks]

I would love to see her modern take on this.

[@IgorSinitsky]

Shes brilliant

[@Beretta249]

So why do people keep asking if Applebaum "likes Putin?" Her description of Putin is pretty mild compared to his actual record of theft and murder.

[@philthompson8574]

Compare the death toll of American imperialism with that of the Putin you will see that he is a paragon of restraint

[@Beretta249]

@@philthompson8574 Only if you're a fascist simp and a bad liar. Try to just be one of those, buddy. Oh and do remember MAD is still a reality. If you detonate a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, or _anywhere,_ Russia's a radioactive parking lot never occupied by anyone. Killing a billion people on the way out won't stop Russia from being disavowed by the human race.

[@sigikah3916]

​@@Beretta249 The only nation that used nukes on civilians were the Americans.

[@lesiachernysh1755]

Brilliant mind! Very articulate! Thanks Mrs Applebaum!

[@CaliforniaGirl-qk5kq]

Yes = great anti Russian propaganda, indeed.

[@martinjanecek4950]

guess again.

[@patrickbass3542]

Are the Russian people tiring of being pissed on while being told that it's only a summer shower?

[@gunnarMyTube]

Has it been checked if Mr. Putin agrees with the assessment ? It could be useful feedback.

[@CaliforniaGirl-qk5kq]

In western democracies we have practice called equal time. Are you telling me that it was violated?

[@sanjd6882]

I love listening to Anne Appelbaum, it's so informative. As for the gentleman who made a statement that Putinism was a valid "alternative" to liberal democracy, firstly it came across as incredibly rude and arrogant. Secondly, in what universe of the human experience would one want to risk imprisonment, destitution or death for saying something contrary to the permitted narrative, why would one want an absolute monarch in the 21st century, and why would anyone want the state's wealth to be plundered by the leader and his acolytes. An alternative certainly, and not unique, but desirable to anyone not indoctrinated and able to speak freely????

[@iancmcintyre]

"You pointing at me, old man?"

[@freeforall1394]

Anne hits the target and the target yelps out personal attacks while never countering her points with scholarly rebuttal. Standard operational surrender.

[@johnhenni2808]

Being articulate like Ribbentrop or Beria ( which I believe that herridan is) is not a highly prized point of honor.

[@maff77]

Her bit on Syria may have some element of truth to but I hardly think that's the main reason for 'Russia's behaviour' there somehow...

[@shashankkolhe4111]

northsearat89 Russia is fighting in Syria to not allow Wahabbi ISIS backed caliphate there. Syria will then become a perfect launching pad to start Jihadi aggression against Russia

[@renee-mariekrugkrug3989]

Putin's strong suit is as a reformer his weakness stems from not believing in Plaurality. An engaged innovative workforce would scare him.

[@genXcripple]

Oo! I just ordered her book Red Famine the other day. My algorithm and microphone make such a wonderful couple lol

[@HeyGuy4321]

Great talk

[@juliohuato9053]

Ideally, I agree. In the face of existing international inequality of wealth -- and, hence, political and military power -- the assertion of national rights to political sovereignty as set under current international law is a small (though often toothless) defense that poorer countries can wield against wealthier ones. If this is right, then the path to true internationalism (cooperation on an equal footing) goes through the nationalism of the oppressed, as flawed as that path may be.

[@maximpopov8651]

She's a genius 💜 Peace Love and Democracy ☮️

[@chevexx1111]

The US has a semblance of choice as well. And America is absolutely a corporate oligarchy under the guise of a republic.

[@grahamfloyd3451]

It's very facile to throw around terms like that. If you look at the US in isolation, you can call it anything you want. But your argument falls apart when you try categorizing the US and other nations under your definition.

[@nikolazuzic477]

NOTHING BETTER TO DO?BUT TALK ABOUT RUSSIA?!!!WANNA HAVE SOME SIBIR FORTUNE?RESOURCES?GAS,OIL,WOOD,CLEAN WATER?DIAMONDS?GOLD?DON,T TELL ME THAT YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS?!!!EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS SCENARIO...LOL

[@fridabulldog4190]

+Nikola Žužić Kremlin's troll go home!

[@CaliforniaGirl-qk5kq]

You are right. With all its natural resources Russia is diamond in the rough. That is the reason why Applebaum was hired to assist in weakening and destroying Russia. Too many valuable mineral resources to let it go by. After all, Iraq war was about oil and not democracy in Iraq. 9/11 (which many believes was inside job) gave Bush opportunity to invade Baghdad. That it costed US over $3 Billion, it does not matter, after all Pentagon cannot account what many Billion of dollars were spent on anyway.

[@macurik]

21:46 And what would happen to a US based TV station if it broadcast something critical of Israel?

[@LattiMonstaaa]

sarnecczaki Nothing, its US based.

[@inick54]

+sarnecczaki It wouldn't happen because the media in the USA has be paid off beforehand.

[@LattiMonstaaa]

R. Ukiddingme oh grow up

[@inick54]

Thats you response? Really? How is what you say in any way a cogent rational argument responding to my (truncated) assertion that the print and elctronic media in the west is held/owned by only a few moguls who themselves are licensed by the state to run public media outlets. You can see my point can you not? Or do I have to spell it all out for you because its just too hard for you to work it out on your own. Or do you want to argue that what I have said has no basis in fact? Try thinking and communicating rather than impulsively asserting that you are some how a fountain head of wisdom, which, given your responses, you clearly are not.

[@Arbo3000]

Nothing

[@nicolassacoto8541]

The thing I can’t understand is, which face of Russia’s history would be more descriptive of Putin’s ideology the USSR or the Russian Empire. Because yes I know that he was born in the USSR and he was a KGB agent and he has implemented some aspects of the Communist Party dictatorship but he use that to promote himself and not the communist ideology (the strongest opposition party to Putin is the Communist Party) and the Soviet Premier he admires was the one that was most against the Soviet status quo; but he says that the fall of the Soviet Union was a catastrophe. By the other side he gave a lot of power to the Orthodox Church and Patriarch Kiril, he has promoted the mythological tales of Russia’s Czars even building church’s and statues in honor of the empire, even promoting Nicholas II canonization, he investigated the truth about the Romanovs rests, he allowed the Imperial Family to return to Russia and his oligarch circle literally financed and assisted to the Royal Wedding (he even gave a honor guard to lavish the wedding), many call him a estatist monarchist and the closest political party to United Russia (LDPR) is just that: Far-right, Conservative, Religious, Estatist and Monarchist. So how Vladimir Putin could be described in that cense.

[@gerteer3832]

This is a symbiosis of ideologies-and this is correct -in our world, capitalism is already switching to elements of a planned economy

[@nupagadii5834]

The stuff what is said here is very coplex it is difficult to have specific order, like some people would wished. I edmire Mrs. Anne E. Applebaum and her oustanding work and knowlage. She is coplex critique of Putin and it mostlikely will help to overcome his metioned weaknesses. It is good to mention about Russian iteligance history "Oparation Putat/ПУТАТь" - to confuse - and gay named: OPERput - its come to me that they're some analogy to it...

[@MartinJames389]

"Chelski.... Chelsea as soft power" Ha! Yes! You don't have to be an Arsenal supporter to see that.

[@BERENCEV]

Замечательное знание современной путинской системы...

[@sigikah3916]

1:01:40 that's the main point about Putinism!

[@ssbraga]

Very good.

[@danmann3182]

A very beautiful lecture, Anne.

[@susannamarker2582]

The terms 'managed democracy' and 'corporate capitalism' could certainly be used to describe the institutions of the EU, notably how large companies tell the EU Commission how to shape laws for their markets, and how the EU Parliament just votes in copious loads of legislation from the Commission that member state parliaments have to adopt with no debate.

[@JaKommenterar]

Oh really, and did EU’s managed democracy start a full scale war?

[@susannamarker2582]

@@JaKommenterar Yes it did. Germany's old foreign policy, forever pushing eastwards. It's old Drang nach Osten. Since 1871.

[@JaKommenterar]

@@susannamarker2582 That’s not a war, you can only back up your weak comparison by redefining what war means.

[@JaKommenterar]

@@susannamarker2582 And EU didn’t exist back then, genius

[@susannamarker2582]

@@JaKommenterar The EU is the continuation of Germany by other means.

[@JaKommenterar]

The guy with the pro Putin propaganda would be embarrassed in 2022, if he had any shame

[@johnhenni2808]

If you had any kind of intelligence you'd consult some brain power and some persons whose wisdom could calm the circumstances that may get us a nuclear exchange Churchill, Patton and Mc Arthur could only win one battle at a time. A nuclear armed missile may only take 20 mins tops to take out Moscow but enough time to wipe Los Angeles off the planet.😊

[@JaKommenterar]

@@johnhenni2808 That has nothing to do with what I said so you are clearly brain dead. Sit down before you hurt yourself.

[@jasongray4517]

Sad to say he'll no doubt be holding NATO responsible and absolving Putin from blame. Applebaum has been vindicated by recent events; her interlocutor rather less so.

[@JaKommenterar]

@@jasongray4517 Very true

[@yagganleeuw3205]

I find a lot of conjecture in Pof. A Applebaum's presentation and question answer section. For one, she has not visited the Russian Federation nor lived within the USSR; nor does she command Russian skills to have an objective view. I make my statement, as one who has all the above, that she has not. Very academic and nothing else.....

[@jiriprochazka6366]

Yaggan Leeuw she has and she does!

[@KalifornienWolfe]

Jiri Prochazka is correct (and you are not): Anne Applebaum DOES speak Russian and HAS lived in the USSR. And has spent much time researching previous books on Ukraine, Russia, etc.

[@robertos.7616]

Transatlantic thinktank. Pushed from the beginning, would have never reached a degree in a mint study. Kind of people thinking to know everything better and tingle from show to show. Ufficially she is presented as a thinker. The birds in the trees do that too without getting money. 😅

[@sweetbird79]

She is telling the truth.

[@user-yc4rk7sn6v]

indeed

[@wegder]

If only Anne had warned us.

[@sikorki-kanatestowy8771]

Słucham tego po 8 latach i jest 10 razy gorzej niż Ann Appelbaum mogła wtedy przewidywać.

[@ihorkarpiuk4102]

Правда, правда

[@davideldred.campingwilder6481]

I think that Americans should learn how to pronounce Moscow correctly...It's Mosco(w) with the (w) being silenced. If you are an American reading this, try it...

[@alexproduction7613]

Yes, it's true

[@Ivan_Kozak]

Well, now it`s very relevant

[@tvwatcher1883]

God Bless Her!!! and to see all the russian troll's vile comments below she's hitting them hard with the truth :)

[@MidnightRambler]

if i dont agree..they are trolls, if i agree they bringing the truth..

[@shashankkolhe4111]

tv watcher Perfect example of a person living in bubble that is you.

[@zamanium7517]

I'm russian and it's clear that putinism is fascism as it is

[@kenbowser5622]

Elections, ya say? Hmmmmm.

[@neuropsychdoc6341]

How prescient given the Trump era!!!

[@kenbowser5622]

Even more so since the new occupant. I'm sure his some deserved that $3.5 million from the wealthiest woman in Russia.

[@deroconnor4621]

Putin has done a great job and is very popular in Russia, it is very hard to say the same for the West. The East has given a priority to social stability, the West appears to prioritize malice and self hatred at the expense of social stability. Every society needs a belief system to function. Belief systems that a grounded in the stories and historical experience of a people generally work better than those invented by bitter intellectuals, which is arguably the direction being pursued in the West.

[@patrickbass3542]

What is the basis of Russia's belief system?

[@deroconnor4621]

@@patrickbass3542 Orthodoxy. it gives a long view that never leaves a people. The opposite of the Germanic world view.

[@oishikhasan8500]

@@deroconnor4621 social stability comes from economic prosperity, mobility and welfare for the disadvantaged not from believing in phoney baloney religions and folklore

[@deroconnor4621]

@@oishikhasan8500 The term "belief system" has greater utility.

[@oishikhasan8500]

@@deroconnor4621 knowing is better than believing

[@JaKommenterar]

The Chelsea point became real life

[@Robert44607]

Russia is a one trick pony!!! Such a level of dismissiveness and mockery!!!

[@skronked]

Andropov at the next Ukraine

[@malina28202]

I will never listen to Anne Applebaum again after what she said about Crimea. Dear Anne, Crimea is Ukraine and if you don’t see it, stop talking about Ukraine. Your interview with Zygar falls into sweet ears of Russian propaganda.

[@stanleywhiteman6450]

I think this Professor needs to learn another old Russian proverb: Elbow is very close but you cannot bite this elbow..(Близок локоть, да не укусишь..) Then, may be this person's view of Russia will not be only influenced by Polish mother in law.. ;) Peace...

[@felixmbandandayitabi4536]

Can you elaborate more please?

[@stellaadler1977]

The US wanted to isolate Russia and they isolate themselves. WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND!

[@awuma]

Paranoid nonsense. The opposite is true, e.g. consider ISS, which was conceived as a means for keeping the Russian space program going and its engineers and scientists staying in Russia.

[@Robert44607]

Such a Russophobe!!! Not suppressing considering her ethnicity and Nationality too!!! 😂😂😂

[@shrappnells]

1:01:33 This guy killed these clown with a dose of cold served truth.

[@romeomatei5692]

Your guy is a douchebag. Right now Putin invaded Ukraine.

[@a.m.armstrong8354]

@@romeomatei5692 It was necessary.

[@a.m.armstrong8354]

Shrappnells. John Berriman. I agree with the guy! Independence terrifies the West.

[@romeomatei5692]

@@a.m.armstrong8354 Hello, Krembot, how do you do?

[@Russian86]

Not sure if she's speaking or reading...

[@Mega14556]

It's clear that she was doing both. I don't understand the question.

[@StuartTheunissen]

This is a lecture not a TED Talk. Obviously you've never seen the inside of the university.

[@epastas1]

sorry but this is only words,not actions but only words this is not enough ,rusian fashism is terrible

[@a.m.armstrong8354]

"15.00: The semblance of opposition.." We do that in the West too! Putin is right to ensure his nation is impenetrable to external subversion. It's what sovereignty is about..

[@CaliforniaGirl-qk5kq]

Russia had been robbed by Oligarchs, most of them were Russian Jews, who after stealing billions of dollars from Russian people moved to West where they are purchasing basketball and soccer teams and live very comfortably. Putin wanted to become part of NATO, and NATO responded no. We needed boogey man who could justify $620 Billion + a year in military spending by United States. However, while we are concerned about Russia, China takes over US position in the world.

[@CalifornianOnEEurope]

since WHEN she is a PROFESSOR? I think it is a mistake. Plus the lecture is as dull as reading from a paper can be. READING from paper... a basic NON NO for a good lecture.

[@MartinJames389]

Depends on the forum. Academics often refer to "reading a paper".

[@CalifornianOnEEurope]

both forms are correct both 'reading a paper' as well as 'reading from a paper'. plus some academics happen to have PhDs in computer sciences or law not English literature :-) What can be said for sure she is no Professor and using the term is abusive for all the scholars that have provided tangible and substantial contribution to literature rather than ripping off Zolzenicyn's Gulag.

[@pawelpap9]

In anglo-saxon world "professor" is a job, not a state-given title. You can easily verify on LSE IDEAS website that Anne Applebaum is listed as a professor.

[@MartinJames389]

pawelpap9 And in the UK that means more than it does in the USA where, as I understand things, any university teacher with a doctorate is called a "professor". In the UK, a professorship is a SENIOR academic appointment, often the head of a university department and most university teachers and researchers are called "readers" or "lecturers" -until or unless they are awarded a professorship, which many never are.

[@CalifornianOnEEurope]

In the US a professorship is also SENIOR academic appointment as well. Using the term for her in ANY VENUE is a depreciating for the term and its usual esteem. She is a professor much the same like a high school teacher with no BsC can be called a professor by hugh school students. In Poland where she LIVES a professor is ANY teacher in high school. Even one that has no bachelor's degree would be called a professor. This does not change the fact that CALLING any such "professor" professor by ANYONE outside of high school would be laughed at. She holds no job as ANY professor at any US institution. Calling her a professor is abuse and nonsense. She knows less about communism and soviet union than any of use to have lived in it. Her "lectures" are great for clueless beaurocrats. Please stop peddling her reading and pathetic lecture style as anything valuable or engaging. She is pathetic at speaking. This is easy to see for anyone to have seen a good lecture on ANYTHING else, can even be on how to build electric motors. in my view she has nothing valuable to say unfortunately and even given this she cannot deliver any speeches in an engaging way. It shows that even good universities produce questionable level of education for some liberal arts graduates. I oppose Putin but with such FRIENDS like beurocrats educated by her(her husband being a cabinet minister in PL gov and a total bull) who needs ANY ENEMIES. LSE IDEAS is like a night school moonlighting project sucking the air out of LSE name.

[@kathyroppel5350]

she cant be serious

[@a.m.armstrong8354]

'Liberal Democracy' from my perspective equates with Liberalism and Neoliberalism. The goal of Neoliberalism is wholesale exploitation. In 1993 its mantra for Africa was 'Recolonialsation'. Recolonialisation amounted to the insertion of Nelson Mandela as a puppet leader in South Africa, conflict in Rwanda/Congo, and destabilisation of Soviet/China-influenced leaders such as Mugabe in Zimbabwe. The objective was furthering the exploitation of that continent. Neoliberalism is not above collapsing an economy if it is non-amenable to Neoliberal (US) control. Hence the Wall-Street orchestrated collapse of the Asian Tiger economies in the nineties, coincided with the Japanese 'lost decade'.. As for 'carefully focused acts of violence', no example betters the US example. African Americans continually subjected to strategies of support by the Neoliberal establishment for African American cultural mainstream, while concentrating media attack upon elements seen as disruptive. Beyond America, CIA specialising in exploding cigars and poisonings of iconic figures such as Malcolm X and Marley, if they threaten geopolitical objectives. To my mind then, Anne Appelbaum's opposition to what she identifies as 'Putinism' characterises her body language and delivery. Putin she presents as a Bond-villain baddie who has got hold of the planet's largest nation, as opposed to the remote Pacific island. From his territorial fastness Appelbaum's frustration is that Putin has made his nation far harder to manipulate, while gradually returning it to being an international force to be reckoned with. If it was '17th in terms of geopolitical importance behind China, North Korea and India, etc', in 2016; it is second behind China now. That's progress in my book, but irrespective of Anne Appelbaum's rhetoric, Neoliberalism doesn't do alternatives, so Russia must be dismantled, now or never, in case real pluralism presents itself to those non-aligned of this world.

[@joececcacci4879]

The Russian people seem to be comfortable having Putin as the leader.

[@StuartTheunissen]

Yes, you might also 'seem' conformable if a contrary posture means a dose of polonium-210 in your morning cuppa.

[@ututura]

putin and israel's state are the only ones who do know what time is it. period.

[@capitosinora]

This woman is just another CIA quasi analyst.

[@CaliforniaGirl-qk5kq]

John Smith - you are right. She is paid to spew anti Putin propaganda to destroy Russia. That is CIA goal. And she acts accordingly to what she is paid for.

[@crimony3054]

CIA analysis shows there is a continuing appetite in English-speaking audiences for this type of fare.

[@andreyrussian2480]

Just US spy with a legend

[@freeforall1394]

"terrible speech and shame on LSE"....Nashist.

[@valgehiir]

I can not listen to her voice.. at all

[@enrytime]

She talks too fast. Why? not a good speaker at all