Thread by @kamilkazani

Russian regionalist Media «7x7. Horizontal Russia» compiled a map of attacks on the military commissariats (draft & recruiting stations) all over Russia from Feb 24 to May 31, 2022. Unlike most of what passes for "liberal Russian media" in the West, this one isn't based in Moscow

«7x7. Horizontal Russia» was established in the northern Komi republic. Having expanded to dozens of Russian regions it still keeps its regional focus. They do massive work on the ground that remains virtually unnoticed in the West semnasem.org

I'm inclined to think that the focus of Western journalists, politicians and (let's be honest) researchers on everything Moscow-related at the expense of the rest of the country is motivated not only by their implicit biases or prejudices but also by simple laziness

How come that the Western media pay nearly zero attention to a wildly successful regional initiative?

1. They're biased
2. They're lazy

And they lack self awareness to realize either of this

Look whom the Western media are quoting and interviewing. Almost always it will be the representatives of a closely interconnected political&media ecosystem of Moscow tusovochka. Those who work in the province get almost zero coverage no matter how much they are doing

Interestingly enough the same Westerners usually can reflect their own biases and prejudices when it comes to their own country. But for some reason they lose their ability when it comes to the Eastern Europe. The can't overcome their basis because they don't know it exists

Why do Westerners give voice only to the Moscow tusovochka? My guess:

1. It's easy
2. It's pleasant. Tusovochka usually has that social polish that will make Westerners feel good. And feeling good is the priority here
2. They think they can add some positive knowledge this way

It's delusion for most part. I would argue that talking to, writing about, quoting the Moscow tusovochka has negative rather than positive value for the progress of knowledge. You give additional representation to people and institutions which are already wildly overrepresented

Giving additional platform and additional representation to the already wildly overrepresented Moscow establishment skewes the already existing bias even further. You are not helping, you are making things worse. Just stop it

Instead of quoting the Moscow media how about quoting the regional ones such as 7*7? Instead of quoting the Moscow politicians and activists how about quoting the regional ones which currently have almost no voice and no representation in the West at all? End of thread

PS Moscow's domination over the regions is not "natural". It's constructed. And its key element is the cultural hegemony which largely results from Moscow being almost the sole intermediary with the West (with the single exception of StP). This cycle must be broken

When you give additional platform and additional voice to Moscow you reinforce its cultural hegemony over the regions. You increase its status and its symbolic capital. You reinforce the current imperial system. It's a political act