Thread by @kamilkazani

1. Language gap -> Most Westerners do not consume content in Russian

2. So, Westerners form their opinion based on what their own media/cultural establishment told them

3. Western cultural establishment forms their opinions based on what Moscow cultural establishment told them

Western discourse on Russia is being formed by the Western cultural elites. And the Western cultural elites rely on the facts selected and interpretations provided by the cultural elites of Moscow. As a result, it's the upper class of Moscow that defines how the West sees Russia

Perspective of the Moscow cultural elites is wildly overrepresented in the Western discourse. Since the Western cultural elites hardly even interact with anyone else, they fully depend upon the former as the source of both "facts" and interpretations to base their opinions upon

Discourse on Russia = the wildly overrepresented circle of Moscow cultural elites with good Western connections + the silent, voiceless, unrepresented empire. And I don't mean just the ethnic periphery, I mean everything that is neither Moscow, nor St Petersburg

As a result, the dominant Western discourse on Russia is being infected by all the prejudices, biases and the (semi)conscious class interest of a narrow social circle whom the Western cultural elites draw their opinions from

Example

1. Moscow cultural elites know that disintegration of empire is against their interest
2. They claim this scenario "makes no sense" (=against our interest) and look for arguments against
3. Through their Western connections, Moscow perspective becomes Western perspective

Another example

1. Moscow cultural elites know Navalny is "not bad" (= not bad *for them*)
2. They select facts and construct arguments to support Not Bad Navalny theory
3. Through their Western connections, their POV becomes Western POV

They fully shape the Western opinion