In Moscow's Shadows 132: A View from the Provinces
Jan 28, 2024
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Explore the overlooked provinces of Russia through the lens of the Komi Republic. Understand grassroots propaganda, socioeconomic conditions, and political marginalization in this resource-dependent region. Learn about discrediting the army, controversial trials, risks and surveillance, and the importance of publicizing resistance and engaging with regional findings in Russia.
48:56
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Quick takeaways
Studying Russia solely from a Moscow-centric perspective overlooks important regional dynamics and trends.
Despite political apathy, individuals and civil society groups in the Komi Republic find ways to express dissent and bring about local change.
Deep dives
The Importance of Focusing on Russia's Regions
This podcast episode highlights the need to pay attention to Russia's regions, shifting the focus away from Moscow and St. Petersburg. It emphasizes that studying Russia solely from a Moscow-centric perspective is problematic, as it overlooks important regional dynamics and trends. The importance of outlets like Bear Market Brief, which specifically analyze and explore regional matters, is acknowledged. By examining a report on grassroots propaganda and repression in the Komi Republic, the episode delves into the political and social situation in this region and extrapolates insights that may apply to other parts of Russia as well.
Freedom of Speech and Political Apathy
The podcast highlights the challenges faced by freedom of speech in Russia, particularly in the Komi Republic. It discusses how poverty, widespread apathy, and a lack of trust contribute to depoliticization. The LaVada Center survey is referenced, which reveals a low sense of responsibility among Russians for the country's political affairs. The episode suggests that despite political apathy, some individuals and civil society groups still find ways to bring about change on a local level or express dissent, even if they don't believe their impact will extend to national politics.
The Effects of the War and Casualties
The podcast highlights the connection between the ongoing war and public sentiment in the Komi Republic. It discusses how the region's disproportionate number of casualties in the conflict can lead to discontent and activism against the war. The potential correlation between protesting the war and awareness of casualties is explored, along with the idea that people may feel their suffering is disproportionate to the rest of the country. The episode suggests that activism and dissent can arise from a sense of unfairness and disproportionate suffering.
Civil Society Resistance and Grassroots Support
The podcast underscores the resilience of Russian civil society despite state pressure and repression. It examines how individuals and organizations find ways to embed democratic practices, show solidarity, and support social initiatives, even in remote regions with high poverty levels. The importance of working with and supporting Russian civil society is emphasized, as well as the need to foster communication between emerging opinion makers and local NGOs. The episode calls for efforts to encourage and empower civil society while publicizing their activities both within Russia and internationally.
Barring particularly high-profile developments, we tend to look at Russia through the prism of Moscow (and maybe St Petersburg). How good a picture does this give us? To try and redress the balance, I use a recent Association D'Est report on 'Grassroots Propaganda and Repression in Russia's Komi Republic' to consider some of the wider lessons about protest and resistance in the provinces...
The D'Est webage is here, and you can learn more about the Bear Market brief here (substack) and here (podcast).
The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Conducttr, which provides software for innovative and immersive crisis exercises in hybrid warfare, counter-terrorism, civil affairs and similar situations.
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