For Russia to be able to colonize, subjugate the former Soviet republics, it needs to offer a higher culture (culture, of course, and not “dancing and singing”, in the narrow sense of the word) than there are in the newly independent states, to offering modernization programs thereof. Otherwise, even if they give free gas or, in particular, place “Smerch” or “Iskander” in Armenia on every kilometer, anyway, no colonization would work out. We have achieved a certain level of culture (yes, let’s pay tribute to Imperial Russia and the Soviet Union, as well as with their support) that it is possible to possess us with a lower level.
The stupidest thing that can be done by Russia is to block the European culture, saying “get these standards of civilization through us and supplied by us” (which it tries to do through the “customs” instruments). Even in Soviet times, under the conditions of “iron curtain”, such isolation did not bring into its full effect. For example, in the late 60s, western “rock culture” was reaching us through different “loopholes”. Now, it’s totally excluded in the presence of the Internet and other technologies, today, when the generation that has not seen the Soviet has grown up, in the background of which our notions sometimes do not shine with freshness. Yesterday, I met with a student, whom I was introduced by his head of the Chair. The young man, who seemed quite developed, did not know me, and had not heard my name, because he does not read Armenian newspapers, nor watches local TV channels, but, as he said, every day in the morning he reads “New York Times” and “The Wall Street Journal” on the internet. If this is true, it is very good.
“Subjugating” forcedly is possible only under the conditions of iron curtain, which in the 21st century is not technically possible. Even in far remote African village a person has the opportunity to know what are the standards of life, production, technology, education, in short, culture (in the broad sense). Not to speak about the nations living in Russia, Armenia, and other former Soviet countries with their quite high educational qualification. If earlier the Suslov ideologists were able to deceive: “yes, we live bad, but the black are pursued there,” now, the Surkov ideologists cannot deceive: “yes, we live bad, but gay parades are held there.” Although there are such and many other unacceptable phenomena in the West, they absolutely do not “justify” our bad life. In short, to create an empire, you must offer something more attractive than gas or weapons.
Recently, I was watching an analysis over the CNN channel (broadcast was called GPS, and the author was Fareed Zakaria), and the information was the following: During Mandela’s funeral, Obama approached and shook hands with Raul Castro; it was the first time in the history of the two countries. On that occasion, Zakaria said that the decades-long blockade, the policy of changing Cuba’s regime did not bring any results, maybe it’s time to think of something else.
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ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
