You know, the last few days - the Crimea takeover, the final decimation of oppositional press, and the sanctions exchange with the U.S. - have me feeling lightheaded with relief. At last, after twenty-odd years of shuffling about the stage, the players are on their marks. (Julia Ioffe was right in saying recently that everything that has happened in and to Russia since 1991 is one single period of post-Soviet transition, were just too close to it to realize it). Things are just crisper now, in sharper focus. Domestically, Russia has given conclusive proof that it doesnt know how to be a country: either it is an empire, or it doesnt know what it is. Shepherding the surrounding nations is the only thing that gives its vastness a point and its denizens an identity. Excellent. Got it. And internationally, Russia is the bad guy again, which is great because its the only way it can be interesting. The perceived villainy of its authorities lends timelessness to its uneven literature, relevance to its crappy pop music, and big shiny halos to its dissidents, most of whom are otherwise too complicated or flawed to fully embrace. Perfect. Got this one too. Now and only now we can finally move on. On to what, though, I dont dare guess.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 09:41:10 +0000
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