Intelligence Squared Putin, The Soviet Union and The Rise of Russian Imperialism, with Mikhail Zygar (Part Two)
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Dec 15, 2025 Mikhail Zygar, a noted Russian journalist and dissident, explores the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse and its implications for modern Russia. He discusses how cynicism replaced belief in ideals post-communism, enabling Putin's rise by exploiting public disillusionment. Zygar emphasizes the generational divide in values among Russians, the symbolic power of Alexei Navalny, and the detrimental effects of disinformation on truth. He shares insights on plans to publish in Russia, emphasizing the importance of hope amid despair.
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Teachers Pretended The Pioneers Never Existed
- Zygar recalls returning to school in September 1991 when teachers acted as if the pioneer organization never existed.
- He describes the abrupt switch from Lenin to God as emblematic of Soviet absurdity and mass gaslighting.
Cynicism Replaced Soviet Ideology
- Cynicism replaced ideology after the USSR collapsed and now shapes Russian society and politics.
- Mikhail Zygar argues this cynicism explains why values vanished and money became the primary motivator.
Stability Over Ideology Keeps Putin Popular
- Vladimir Putin exploits post-Soviet cynicism and replaces ideology with a lifestyle-based stability.
- Zygar compares Russian governance to a hijacked airplane where people accept control to keep their material comfort.
