Louis Proyect
2014-10-20 13:12:12 UTC
The separatist movement was only able to mount an armed conflict with
the Ukrainian state on this scale because of support from the Russian
state. The main reason this support was, and is, given is the Russian
state?s fear of the movements that developed in Ukraine prior to
Yanukovich?s overthrow ? the demonstrations on Maidan and the high level
of social protest right across Ukraine that accompanied them.
I am not glamourising the Maidan movement. Alongside progressive and
democratic ideas there were many reactionary and nationalist ideas among
those who took part. (See what I wrote in February here.) But I am
saying that the Kremlin looked on these demonstrations with horror,
because it showed that collective actions by large numbers of people in
the former Soviet space could create situations it could not control.
Fear of social movements, whether in Russia or other former Soviet
countries, is a hallmark of Putin?s government.
As a result of direct Russian military involvement in the conflict, NATO
countries have introduced economic sanctions against Russia and there is
now a real conflict between Russia and some of the western powers. But
it is a tension within limits. It is a mistake to believe that a new
?cold war? is in progress ? or that there is somehow something
progressive, ?anti imperialist? or ?anti fascist? in the Kremlin?s
actions. (More on that here.) The next section argues that more fully.
full:
http://peopleandnature.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/ukraine-war-as-a-means-of-social-control/
the Ukrainian state on this scale because of support from the Russian
state. The main reason this support was, and is, given is the Russian
state?s fear of the movements that developed in Ukraine prior to
Yanukovich?s overthrow ? the demonstrations on Maidan and the high level
of social protest right across Ukraine that accompanied them.
I am not glamourising the Maidan movement. Alongside progressive and
democratic ideas there were many reactionary and nationalist ideas among
those who took part. (See what I wrote in February here.) But I am
saying that the Kremlin looked on these demonstrations with horror,
because it showed that collective actions by large numbers of people in
the former Soviet space could create situations it could not control.
Fear of social movements, whether in Russia or other former Soviet
countries, is a hallmark of Putin?s government.
As a result of direct Russian military involvement in the conflict, NATO
countries have introduced economic sanctions against Russia and there is
now a real conflict between Russia and some of the western powers. But
it is a tension within limits. It is a mistake to believe that a new
?cold war? is in progress ? or that there is somehow something
progressive, ?anti imperialist? or ?anti fascist? in the Kremlin?s
actions. (More on that here.) The next section argues that more fully.
full:
http://peopleandnature.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/ukraine-war-as-a-means-of-social-control/