Quote:
Originally Posted by Toy Soldier
I think something else that massively complicates this is that a lot of Russians, especially from the West of Russia, see themselves as culturally European-ish as well. Especially in Urban areas. A lot of their entertainment media is quite westernised as well, I've watched a few Russian series that could easily be set in the US or any European country other than the language spoken. Putin (et al.) are quite aware of this increasing trend and that in itself is quite likely considered a cultural threat to Russia. If the population is largely westernised then all it takes is a regime change (once Putin is gone?) and you potentially have a very, very different-looking Russia. LOTS of vested interest in that not happening.
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in the far east of russia, in vladivostok, their major trading partner is japan. I know japan isn't "western", but it has everything associated with western values. All the cars are japanese and they are all right hand drive
All the tech is the latest and greatest from japan. So culturally, it's just not like the rest of russia at all. Even more interestingly, that is where the russian navy hq is. Until 30-40 years ago, vladivostok was a closed city, completely isolated/protected from the rest of russia
The point being that russia has problems in a lot of its regions, not just to the west