May 18, 2022

"As Mr Putin’s regime shifts from a relatively open authoritarianism towards a more closed dictatorship, its propaganda is changing, too."

"Television hosts and guests present the 'special military operation' as part of a grander conflict in defence of Russia. State media have long intoned about the West’s supposed intention to undermine Russia and Mr Putin’s efforts to protect the motherland. But where propaganda once sought mostly to breed passivity, cast doubt on reality and discourage political participation, it increasingly seeks to mobilise popular support for Mr Putin’s war, by convincing people that Russia is under attack and victory is the only way out. 'The old rules of authoritarian life are breaking down, active participation is being demanded,' says Greg Yudin, a sociologist. As in any country, the exact picture depends on the media you consume. For Russians with the desire and a bit of tech-savvy, unofficial information is still accessible. But those who follow the official news, as The Economist did on May 11th, see a world solely of the Kremlin’s making. Here is a day in the life of a follower of The Putin Show...."

From "THE PUTIN SHOW/How the war in Ukraine appears to Russians" (Economist).

26 comments:

David Begley said...

“As in any country, the exact picture depends on the media you consume.“

Yup. Readers of the NYT and WaPo and viewers of CNN and MSNBC had no idea about the Biden crime family.

mikee said...

With such control of the news, Putin should declare victory and get his troops back to their barracks.

Bob Boyd said...

Television hosts and guests present the war in Ukraine as part of a grander conflict in defence of freedom and democracy. American media have long intoned about the Putin’s supposed intention to undermine democracy and Mr Putin’s efforts to meddle in US elections. But where propaganda once sought mostly to breed suspicion, cast doubt on reality and encourage political division, it increasingly seeks to mobilise popular support for greater US involvement the war, by convincing people that the west is under attack and regime change in Moscow is the only way out. As in any country, the exact picture depends on the media you consume. For Americans with the desire and a bit of tech-savvy, unofficial information is still accessible. But those who follow the official news see a world solely of the US government's making.

Rollo said...

That could all be true, but I wouldn't take "Greg" Yudin's word for it. He's one uf those people who always has an opinion and a quote ready for the newspapers.

Lurker21 said...

I hold no brief for Putin, but 50 years ago one could believe that dissident Russian intellectuals were fighting for freedom and democracy. Lately the Western intelligentsia has been so forcefully defending abuses of power and the suppression of discussion that it's unfortunately easy to be skeptical about what intellectuals in other parts of the world really want to do.

rcocean said...

How many times have we heard from Mr. Yudin - MASTER SOCIOLOGIST? Why is he the X-burt on Russia? Why is he constantly being quoted?

rcocean said...

Putin - walls are closing in.

chapter XXX

Robert Cook said...

Not surpisingly, Russia is promulgating the same kind of propaganda as is spread by the US and any other nations who initiate war against other nations.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

But where propaganda once sought mostly to breed passivity, cast doubt on reality and discourage political participation
1: It's The Economist, which has been garbage for years. So it could be that every word written there is a lie. But, assuming that for once they're not lying

2: Yes, that's what you do when you're an authoritarian kleptocracy. Because an energized populace is likely to turn on you

it increasingly seeks to mobilise popular support for Mr Putin’s war, by convincing people that Russia is under attack and victory is the only way out. 'The old rules of authoritarian life are breaking down, active participation is being demanded,' says Greg Yudin, a sociologist.

The Professor covered an article a few weeks ago that pointed out that Russia is one of the most atomized (they claimed "individualistic", but that's because the people writing up the poll are idiots) countries in the world. People don't "belong" to anything, not even their families. because 70+ years of Communist rule destroyed all allegiance anyone had to anything.

So, assuming the article is a correct description of the situation, the odds are high that this campaign will fail utterly.

And if it doesn't, the odds are high that any unleashed energy will end up targeting the people who have been robbing them for decades.

Which is to say, Putin and his cronies are the most likely actual targets of an energized populace

Critter said...

How do we know this report is not part of the disinformation sponsored by the British government? No doubt some at the Economist are part of this group, just like Biden’s new disinformation comrade: https://www.revolver.news/2022/05/biden-minster-of-truth-nina-jankowicz-and-the-secret-nato-funded-cabal-to-subvert-western-democracies-using-disinformation-as-cover/

jnseward said...

You mean the U.S. is not trying to undermine Russia? You mean Russia is not under attack? Of course we are. Of course they are.

Roger Sweeny said...

It's a good thing Putin is keeping his citizens from getting disinformation.

jaydub said...

"Television hosts and guests present the 'special military operation' as part of a grander conflict in defence (sic) of Russia."

Wow, so does the reporting from Vermont. Sometimes Tim is even able to scoop Pravda. BTW, when are you going to update your reporting regarding the Siverskyi Donets River crossing fiasco and the surrender of a retired US admiral at the Azovstal Steel Mill in Mariupol? Are you waiting for your primary sources, e.g., jewworldorder.org, brutalproof.net and stateofthenation.co, to update their reporting? Or are you still expecting the NYT, CBS and NBC to pick up those stories?

BUMBLE BEE said...

Following Can Of Cheese For Hunter's link in another thread here, I came upon an MSNBC vid on UTUBE explaining how the Buffalo Shooter referenced "Tucker Carlson's Replacement Theory" in "the manifesto". Seriously?
https://im1776.com/2022/05/17/renaud-camus-interview/
https://www.dailyveracity.com/2021/07/30/yes-you-are-being-replaced/
I don't expect that MSNBC viewers are anything but ignorant, considering their source.

n.n said...

Authoritarian? Democratic/dictatorial duality? Left-wing ideology? The Biden/Maidan/Slavic Spring in the catastrophic Obama World Spring Series. Here's to handmade tales brayed relentlessly, progressively, openly.

Candide said...

Yet another article about how bad is Putin and how awful is life in Russia. Russia is bad, end of story. But it’s not the end, it’s only the beginning. Accepting once and for all that Putin is bad and life in Russia is awful should free people’s mind to ask more important questions. Such as, what is good about Ukraine? And, most and foremost, what the hell is wrong with US political elites?

Greg The Class Traitor said...

Candide said...
Yet another article about how bad is Putin and how awful is life in Russia. Russia is bad, end of story. But it’s not the end, it’s only the beginning. Accepting once and for all that Putin is bad and life in Russia is awful should free people’s mind to ask more important questions. Such as, what is good about Ukraine?

1: It's not under the control of Putin, an expansionist dictator who hates the US, and always has
2: It has far more freedom than Russia. No one like Zelensky could be elected in Putin's Russia, unlike Ukraine

Exactly what more do you need?

Candide said...

Apparently, there are many Putins. One is a ruthless and capable political leader with an office in Kremlin, Moscow. Another Putin, much more sinister, lives in Greg’s head driving poor Greg insane and no wonder…

Narr said...

"What the hell is wrong with US political elites?"

Ignorance, arrogance, short-sightedness, childishness, and senility. For starters. The US, Russia, and China are in a race to the bottom, with leaders who deserve dates with lampposts.

The only question is, who will begin the ball? Putin's gambit proves that being a great conqueror isn't as easy as it looks.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

So I asked Candide "Exactly what more do you need?"

And the answer was to babble BS and not answer the question

Leaving us with the apparent answer that Candide just really wants to see Putin conquer Ukraine.

Pathetic

Candide said...

Greg,

Since you consider Zelensky election a proof of greater freedom in Ukraine, you should know that Zelensky was elected in a landslide because he made two promises, to end corruption and make peace with Russia. Almost 80% of Ukrainian voters wanted end of corruption and end of war in Donbas. Instead, corruption continued and war escalated. That makes Zelensky either incapable of keeping his promises, or an outright liar and usurper.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

Candide,

Wow, a politicians made promises to cut corruption, and wasn't able to get rid of all of it! O'm shocked, shocked!

He can't make peace with Russia, when Russia / Putin refuses to make peace with Ukraine.

The only "peace" Putin will accept with Ukraine is the "peace" of it's total destruction and return to slavery under Russia.

That's not his fault, that's Russia and Putins.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

"Since you consider Zelensky election a proof of greater freedom in Ukraine"

That's because it is.

Since Putin took power, he was Supreme Leader, then he shuffled Medved into the spot to keep it wrm for him, then he changed the "rules" so he could go back to not needing a puppet.

Whose puppet is Zelensky?

He's not one of the oligarchs puppets?

Then Ukraine is freer than Russia.

Which one of those steps were you not able to follow?

Candide said...

Greg,

As I suspected, you are having a conversation with Putin that lives inside your head. Enjoy the company.

Candide said...

Greg,

To clarify, my first statement was that Putin is bad and life in Russia is awful. I proposed that once that is established we can proceed to evaluate the Ukrainian and US government in light of universal progressive values, such as respect for democracy, freedom of speech and ethnic tolerance. For some reason you insist on talking about Putin, so obviously we are talking past each other.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

Candide,

"I'm not going to talk about Putin because doing so blows up all my arguments" is not in fact the winning position you seem to think it is.

1: We cannot evaluate Zelensky's "willingness to pursue peace" without looking at who he has to make peace with, and whether or not that person is willing to make peace with him.

2: The question is not "is Ukraine a well managed and honest liberal democracy?" Or at least, if that's your overriding question, you're a nut.
The relevant question is "is Ukraine better than Russia", since Russia's the alternative. So, agin, we have to consider Putin, what he's donna nd what he's likely to do.

In judging Ukraine v Russia, any rational analysis is going to find the tUkraine is superior to Russia.

That does not make them good. That doesn't mean I would rather live there. It does make them better than Russia, and worthy of support against Russia

Esp. since Russia is our enemy, and will be so long as Putin is in charge.

If you're not willing to discuss any of that, then you're not willing to have any sort of meaningful discussion