Thread by @McFaul

I used language in a tweet that I regret. I deleted it. I should have used more precise language. I made a mistake. But I have no regrets about the argument I was trying to make, however imperfectly. Let me explain. THREAD 1/

Short of direct military intervention, the world must use all means necessary to end Putin's horrific war in Ukraine. Many of my friends, both in Ukraine and Russia, believe that peaceful mass protests could be one factor that helps to end this war. 2/

People I know personally in Ukraine -- people close to @ZelenskyyUa -- make this argument. They have called on Russians to protest to end this war. They have asked me to amplify their plea. 3/

From jail in Russia, @navalny has made the exact same plea, calling on his fellow citizens to protest in large numbers to end the war. 4/

Russian friends of mine, some of whom I have known for thirty years, call me privately to make the same argument, urging me to use my voice in solidarity with what they are bravely doing inside their country. 5/

The whole purpose of sanctions from the West is to put pressure on Russian society -- from oligarchs to students -- to put pressure on Putin to end the war. These are not targeted sanctions. 6/

So, to my critics, what was so outrageous about echoing the arguments of Zelensky, Navalny, Ukrainian freedom fighters, and Russian democrats? Please explain. 7/

Moreover, these same courageous people are saying there can be no fence-sitting anymore. People in Russia have to take a stand. 8/

Their arguments reminded me of MLKs frustration with the "moderates" while he sat in jail in Birmingham. That's who I had in mind when I wrote that tweet. Let me quote him. 8/

MLK- "I MUST make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate." 9/

"I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councillor or the Ku Klux Klanner but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice;" 10/

"who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says, "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can't agree with your methods of direct action"; " 11/

"who paternalistically feels that he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by the myth of time; and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a "more convenient season." 12/

"Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection." /13

This is exactly the frustration I hear from my Ukrainian friends and Russian democratic activists regarding Russian society. Exactly. Their passivity regarding Putin helped create the permissive conditions of his dictatorship and now this war. 14/

Ok, now moving on. But if you want to learn more about conditions under which non-violent civic resistance succeeded and failed, check out the syllabus to my current course: POLISCI 342G, "Political Mobilization and Democratic Breakthroughs" michaelmcfaul.com/teaching 15/ END