Thread by @sumlenny

The concept of #RusskiyMir (Russian World) is essential for the Russian imperialism and its war against Ukraine. Let us dive into this concept. A long THREAD:

The concept of #RusskiyMir is not new. It emerged first in the 19th century as a part of Russian imperial philosophy under the names of "Russian Idea", "Russian Spirit" or else, and was related to ideas of pan-Slavism, the unity of Slavonic nations under the rule of Russia /2

During the Soviet era, the idea of #RusskiyMir was not popular in Moscow. But in the 1990s, after the collapse of the USSR, it emerged again in a quite different form. In a "methodology" intellectual sect, Kremlin-close intellectuals developed a concept of "Russian Archipel". /3

Gleb Pavlovsky (the creator of Putin's presidency) and Georgy Shchedrovytsky developed the view on Russian-speaking communities outside of Russia as "long arms" of Moscow, and natural fundaments for development of the Russia's influence. /4 ridl.io/rethinking-the…

The concept of the #RusskiyMir looks to be simple: one believes that the Russian political unity is based on the Russian language, which guarantees indoctrination into the same culture, and this provides the same political and moral values. So simple? Hell, no. /5

First, the concept operates with a very limited number of cultural ideas. Practically, it focuses mostly on the late-Soviet narrative. One can be astonished realising that on the webforums Russian-speaking minority in GER searches for "kind-hearted humanistic Soviet cartoons" /6

But what "Soviet cartoons" they are? You will be astonished again, when you realise, that the "kind-hearted, humanistic, good" Soviet cartoons are... Winnie the Pooh or Karlsson-on-the-Roof. Yes, the Russians believe, that the Soviet versions are "better and humanistic". /7

A side note: the Russians also widely believe, that the late Soviet version of Sherlock is "the world best one", and "nobody could play Sherlock better that the Soviet actor Livanov". Effectively, the #RusskiyMir says, any foreign idea the Russians take, gets only better. /8

This is the core of the #RusskiyMir idea. In a schizophrenic way, it steals any Western idea, proclaims it Russian, and claims the RU supremacy. At the same time (as any RU idea is better), it denies value of any foreign culture/language. Who needs them as long as you speak RU?/9

Let's summarise the facts for this first stop. The #RusskiyMir idea sees the "foreign Russians" as the tools for Moscow, it's based on the loyalty to very limited number of late Soviet culture objects, and denies any value of foreign cultures. It allows the worst jingoism. /10

As within the #RusskiyMir concept the Russians see themselves as absolutely superior, it foresees that Russia-occupied nations must be culturally erased, and enjoy the superiority of Russian culture (see a Russian textbook for occupied Ukrainian Donbas). /11

It also has another consequence. As the idea foresees spreading of Russia's dominance via Russian-speaking communities abroad, it says, that Russia has its sovereign rights on any place in the world where people speak Russian. "Russian is borderless!" - said Putin in 2017. /12

Starting at least from 2007, the #RusskiyMir concept was officially adopted by Russia as a tool to increase the Russian influence abroad, as Vladimir Putin founded the Foundation Russkiy Mir with a far-right politician Nikonov (grandson of the Stalin's FM Molotov) on the top. /13

The #RusskiyMir foundation organised politicised events for the Russian-speaking minorities, including Sunday schools for kids according to politicised Russian standards (as the Russians believed, the RU schools are "better"). This lead to radicalisation of the communities. /14

As in many others techniques of radicalisation, used by dictatorships in the 20th century, Moscow played with the inferiority complex of the minorities. They were told they were way superior than the locals (more cultivated, speaking Russian) but oppressed. I worked perfectly /15

Not only in Germany or other EU countries, but also in Ukraine the ideas of the #RusskiyMir were pushed by Moscow for years. The Russia's claim to control the life of Russian-speaking Ukrainians (who were either colonised, or transferred from Russia after WWII) was so big... /16

...that the Russia's FM press secretary Zakharova accused Ukraine's government of "Ukrainisation of Ukraine" (!) in 2019 after the law was introduced guaranteeing the Ukrainians a right to get medical assistance or other services in Ukrainian language, if the wanted to. /17

A hazardous co-effect of this Russia's propaganda was, that many in the West accepted the idea of the "special rights" of Russia regarding the regions with high share of Russia-speaking population. In German narrative, the concept of Ukraine as "divided nation" was dominant. /18

The scary part was, that nobody questioned the logic of these Russian claims. In the same manner, as the Moscow claimed, the presence of Russian-speaking Ukrainians must provide Russia with "special rights", one could say, Berlin had legitimate claims over Wien or Bern. /19

As any efficient propaganda concept, #RusskiyMir had many layers. It addressed history, culture, religion. The presence of the Russian Orthodox Church was an essential pat of spreading Russian dominance (see this thread about Alexander Nevsky churches) /20

https://twitter.com/sumlenny/status/1524391062751567872

It also camouflaged the Russian imperialism and genocide on the occupied Ukrainian territories with "speading of Russian culture". One of the promoters of the Russian invasion of Ukraine was Anna Netrebko, a fierce #RusskiyMir agent (here: w. Russian occupation leader Tsarev) /21

(I will come later to this topic) /22

Meanwhile, I encourage everyone to share their experience with #RusskiyMirMeansOppression #RussischeWeltIstUnterdrückung
I'll start. At many events in Germany, Ukrainian speakers were forced by the GER hosts to use Russian as working language, "because we have guests from Moscow"