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Do Russians have Stockholm Syndrome?
It seems to me like typical Russians who side with Putin are brainwashed to the point of having Stockholm Syndrome. I mean, they claim he is their democratically elected leader, but after the election (of which he got 140% of the vote), he amended the election laws to stay in power pretty much forever. Add the fact that their constitution does grant the right to assemble and protest, anyone who tries are largely condemned and punished, and even tortured. If any elected leader in a free country to even attempt that, they would be thrown out of office and deal with a huge political backlash. Yet, despite the recent genocides and invasions the Russian government has done, they seem to always side with him? And not just him, but Stalin as well. Why can't these people open up to the truth. The reason the world seems to be closing in on them cause nobody wants to associate with them. I just don't get it. It seems like Stockholm Syndrome to me.
5 Answers
- 6 years agoFavorite Answer
Many Russians were around when the Soviet Union was a country, and now they're starting to look at the "good ole days" and probably want Communism back.
With the invasion of Ukraine is a step in the wrong direction, but it is not America's issue to deal with.
- Anonymous6 years ago
As a Russian myself, I find this question a bit offensive. Its implying that all Russians are genetically programmed to have that syndrome.
Personally, I am in a minority of Russians worldwide who are against Putin's regime. However this statement that brands all Russians as Putin's sheep is a bit offensive.
Now to get to your question, Russia has a state controlled media that has a great deal of anti-Western propaganda that evokes nationalist feelings among Russians. Many have that nostalgia of a loss of a Soviet empire and dislike of foreigners, and Putin plays on those feelings.
West has a chance in the 1990s with a democratically elected pro-Western Russian president Boris Yeltsin, and they blew it. They did not offer much financial and/or political support to his government, which resulted in Russia being taken over by criminal elements and the complete collapse of the Russian economy. Russians were losing a war in Chechnya (where Russian soldiers were unprepared and were killed in large numbers) and public opinion of Yeltsin and everything Western went down.
When Putin arrived, he used his power to decrease the number of criminal elements.His rule also coincided with the rise in the price of oil in the early 2000s which saw the rise of standard of living among Russians. He used his power to credit himself with improvements in the economy. With state controlled media most Russians do believe him. Its over 80% percent. Those who don't are branded as traitors.
The reason why Putin reacted so harshly in Ukraine is because he saw that revolution as a challenge to his authority. If Ukrainians could expel a pro-Russian president, Russians might too. This is why he does his best to play to Russian's most patriotic and nationalist feelings. He tells them that they are besieged by Americans and NATO and they must fight back for the survival of the Russians.
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