For those interested in Nashi, I recommend listening to this interview with Dr. Regina Heller from the University of Hamburg Institute for Peace and Research (a recent article of hers on Nashi can be found here). I think Heller’s discussion serves as as good primer for understanding the many aspects to the pro-Kremlin group. I find it puzzling that the interviewer is surprised that the state is mobilizing youth for support. She seems to think that youth are somehow inherently against the state and for change. This must be some kind of post-1960s myth because historically youth have more often than not been used for rallying nationalist and pro-government support. Groups like the Boys’ Brigades, Boy Scouts, Wandervogel, Hitler Youth, and Komsomol were not known for their anti-government rhetorics.
One issue Heller timely takes up is whether Nashi’s days are numbered since it’s “served its purpose” and is now “politically obsolete” for the Kremlin. I don’t agree with this. Nashi may be in crisis (interestingly not unlike like the Komsomol was after the Russian Civil War) and is searching for its role in Medvedev’s Russia. I think I would count on its death anytime soon. Especially if Lyndon is correct and “colored revolution” continues to be a specter that haunts the political elite.
[podcast]http://se1.isn.ch/serviceengine/Files/E7011820-C13E-A79A-0391-4329C1003DFA/95750/en/Heller.mp3[/podcast]
According this this NY Times article (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/08/business/worldbusiness/08yuan.html) China owns about $1 trillion of US debt. Apparently, they are getting sour on purchasing it. Together, China and Japan own 47% of US debt.
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I couldn’t help noticing people started talking about the US more than about Russia in this thread.
Why would China and Japan get sour about purchasing US debt? It’s like gold, right? It would be a different story if the debt came from Russia in the form of worthless Russian ruble-denominated debt notes.
Dima,
People talk more about the US nowadays because that’s where the action is. Besides, it’s extremely relevant to discussion about youthful ‘progressive’ movements enywhere.
Observing the latest Obama’s flailing and whining we can all see what happens when youthful idealism and naivete slam face first into hard reality.
Interestingly, as the US is careening deep into the Left ditch, Moscow seems to bear into Conservative direction, with Germany following suit.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5b3cf80a-f2ac-11dd-abe6-0000779fd2ac.html
These are interesting times indeed. Alas, Sean shrugged and went John Galt on us all…
Candide,
I agree with your assessment. On that note and subject, – I’ve discovered for myself Ilana Mercer:
http://www.ilanamercer.com/newsite/index.php
There are still people in the USA who can think.
The times are interesting indeed (Chinese curse: “May you live in interesting times”).
Cheers, RP
P.S.: Anti-spam word: “Connect”
“and went John Galt on us all…”
Pardon my ignorance, but what does that mean?
“Who is John Galt?”
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Who+is+John+Galt%3F&aq=f&oq=
Oh no, Kolya, don’t ask don’t tell. Not with too many lefties around these quarters
Okay, thanks. I have never read Ayn Rand. Years ago, in a dorm-like building there was an earnest fellow who kept on pushing her books on me. Initially it was intriguenly amusing to talk to him, then it became tiresomely creepy. It was as if he was trying to convert me. It took him much too long to realize that I’m not good material. At that point, though, he totally switched off. I became invisible to him, even though we could not help but bump into each other several times a week. That sums up my Ayn Rand experience. In any event, I’m glad that she’s not in vogue anymore.
I’ve only read her We the Living. I liked it. I remember reading an article in Vanity Fair a few years ago that Alan Greenspan was in her inner circle. Explains a lot . . .
Two trivia facts,
“Atlas shrugged” is ranked #150 on Amazon.
Ayn Rand was born Alisa Rozenbaum in St. Petersburg.
Sean,
Actually the fact that Alan Greenspan was in Rand’s inner circle explains diddly squat about the man. In his Treasury Secretary role he was anything but Randian.