Well that was chilling. But that last line," it will be as dangerous as it is satisfying " is what gets me. Amazing job once again, I don't think it can be explained any better.
As a Russian, I want to thank you for this series. It's really well done and concise, I only wish it would've been slightly longer, so that you could elaborate slightly more on all the fuckery that was going on with Putin and his gang for all this years, but other than that - extremely well done.
Natural Justice demands that Putin's Criminal wealth that is held for him in London by his lackeys, be turned into Euros and immediately distributed among the 11 million Ukrainian Refugees inside and outside Ukraine
You will most likely know what I will say mate, but to those reading this and wishing to look deeper into to putin's reign, I advice searching for Aleskey navalni's video on the subject, where he breaks down the entire operation this monster and his pocket pigs lead
@@yourmaninlondoncollecting5749 He is so paranoid (and deservedly so) that he probably has some poor bastard who takes a sip of his tea before it even makes it into the same room as him. If its going to happen, it will hopefully be during a public appearance for the world to see, struck down by a traumatised parent of one of the boy soldiers he sent to die, or a Russian who has lost Russo-Unkrani family members at the hands of his "special military operation" death squads. To dust off an olde English proverb; "I wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire..."
As Russian, I avoided commenting on this series till the end, because I didn't want to praise you in advance and then be disappointed. So often I saw documentaries on Putin depicting him in a grey color, "look, he did some awful things, but he's so strong and charismatic, and smart, what a strategist" and all that jazz. After february, 24th I saw that people outside Russia, in Europe, USA, even in Ukraine, totally don't understand who Putin is. What he did and what he does to our country, to our people for 20 years. Y'all don't even know what was going on here for last 3 years. This series... I applaud you, Georg, thank you for your work.
Pryvet. There have been a lot of comments lately trying to analyse pro-Putin sentiment in the west through ideological and philosophical reasons, but I think there is an element often forgotten: for later-Gen-Xers and millenials opposing George W. Bush and Iraq was a defining part of their politics this century, and pre-2008 Putin seemed to be the "anti-W.-Bush" whose foreign policy was not marked by unipolar unilateral action but defending world multipolarism: relations with Germany and most of EU, mild relations with the US, relations with Iran and most neighbouring Muslim states, support against the Taliban and islamist terrorism in general together with many governments, involvement in the BRICS, relations with both pro- and anti-western governments... And in those times, many got a false image of Putin as a less imperialist and more multilateralist alternative to Bush Junior. What they failed to understand is that Putin's objective was always rebuilding Russia (under him and his supporters, naturally) as a dominating (locally and globally) superpower, but after hellish '90s he knew it wasn't realistic to make a US/Russia divided world (yet), so he played the multipolar game for a while, and the moment he felt Russia was developing and growing enough, he went to the imperial method and now basically only knows how to play along with weaker and more dependent countries (like Belarus) and no one else unless they really need too and very begrudgingly (as the Ch1na relations now show) and is insolating Russia by the day. I guess many misjudged Putin for years due to that and have a hard time admiting they were fooled. Da Svidanyia and stay safe in these crazy times out there.
What was going on there for the last 3 years? Please tell us if you can. Also, any info on the situation now, what people say, what you see and what is the mood of the people. Thank you ✋❤️ All the best from Poland
@@MrManio1000 I started to write a response outlining recent events, but it turned out so haphazard, so I need some time to put together a coherent timeline with enough explanation and advices for further information. Right now I just can say it's been a lot. Total shit show of lies, censorship and violence. On the current situation, I can say that the society is very poralized. Some are devastated, some are so brainwashed by our propaganda earning their fee. Families even break apart because people don't want to hear the truth. All free media are banned, most of them left the country. Peaceful protesters are arrested for standing in single picket with blank paper or Tolstoy's War and peace for "discrediting Russian army". As a cherry on cake, we have a new law "about fakes" - you'll be heavily fined or get prison term up to 15 years for spreading misinformation about the army. Misinformation in this context is anything that wasn't reported about the "special operation" (aka the war) by our Ministry of defense. So now people are very cautious with their words.
@@engaby You poor people. I hope this will end soon. I know a lot will not change, but at least hope they will stop sending men to fight, on both sides. I feel terrible for the mothers and the families. Please do not lose hope.
You can't imagine how tragically devastated I feel, actually being born and living in russia for the last 32 years. The scary thing is, even leaving a like and this comment underneath this video could potentially lead to prosecution, fine and/or imprisonment, but I'm too past caring now.
If it helps, it’s clear from here (EU/UK), that all this not a ‘Russian people’ thing and very much a ‘putin thing’. There is a future for a Russian state, with its culture and history, but not it’s leadership.
I hope you are doing as well as possible given the current circumstances. I’m so very sorry you are caught up in the middle of all of this. It’s absolutely not the fault of ordinary Russians, and I know it must be terrifying trying to be a progressively minded, inquisitive person in such an oppressive situation. Please stay safe. I hope you’ll be able to feel more pride in your country someday soon. 💜
@@onemorechris It does help. At the same time there is still so much support for the current regime among the general populace, like, people in all seriousness driving around with z's on their windshields and rallying to state-organized pro-war concerts (true barf-fest in its very concept), and even in discussions with people generally opposed to the United Russia and war I can still hear phrases parroting the state propaganda ("The west is still the enemy", "NATO shouldn't have expanded" and so on). To change the regime, you would have to change the minds, and this makes all hope seem distant. Several generations distant.
As a citizen of Ukraine who was forced to flee his home with his family because of Russia's absolutely destructive and barbaric aggression, I want to thank you for this video. Unlike many Western observers, you have grasped the essence of Putin's anti-human regime and his personal psychological portrait by following all the major steps that have led to the current situation with completely rational conclusions. I have had to discuss many times with people from different countries who perceived the Putin regime as simply corrupt-opportunistic, not imperial and Nazi, and Russians as "innocent victims" rather than a historically oppressive construct prone to such behavior and model of the state. Now, as a structured answer to the first question, I will use the link to the three parts of your video to save time and effort. Thank you once again!
I'm _not_ Ukrainian (British) but I've also always wondered why people don't notice that how many chances at freedom are you willing to give Russians before you realise that being a ruled-people is what they desire the most? Something you wonder whether had been bred specifically for the purpose of playing the role of, "Subjects"? The Tsar is dead, long live the Tsar.
To me it is baffling how deeply entrenched unhuman treatment seems to be in russia. yet i live in a country in which this has changed in just two generations, and don't tell me one could have seen this coming in germany - times have changed. Now there is little to compare between russia and germany, but i don't see historical necessities, and i hope future generations of ukrainians will have better luck with their eastern neighbors. Best of wishes to you
@@MostlyPennyCat No. This video, for example, explicitly documents how Putin first neutered (or controlled) the oligarchs and then suppressed the 'proles'. Russian people may on the surface may be prone to wish to be led by a 'strong man' but you could say that about any people or county on the planet. Political instability allowed such a man to take over but Russians themselves were some of the first to offer opposition. They even had a revolution 100 years ago. Britain is yet to match that level of individualism.
@@kyletitterton Also I'd say they've had two revolutions in the last 100 years. Both times they replaced a strong man with a strong man. And no, we've not had a revolution here in the UK in the last 100 years. We're actually quite proud of that. We had two, both in the 17th century. First one we executed the king and became the commonwealth. Then we realised Cromwell was a dick and revolutioned back where we started, except with a monarch who ruled at the will of the parliament.
I've always been curious how Putin's political career wasn't over after the Kursk Disaster? In case you're unaware in the year 2000, his first year in office, a Nuclear Submarine christened as "Kursk" unexpectedly exploded and sank to the bottom of the Barents Sea during a training exercise. The Kremlin was ready to simply right the crew off as dead until British and American Intelligence broadcasted that they could hear tapping within its hull, indicating their survival. When offered foreign assistance, they played dumb while they tried in vain to launch a rescue with faulty, out-dated Soviet equipment. When that failed, they lied to the family of the sailors with the ludicrous claim that it sank because of an NATO attack which outraged one parent to the point where the FSB was caught on camera injecting her with anesthesia in broad daylight. Finally, by the time where the Kremlin accepted help from a Norwegian Deep Diver Team, it was too late and the crew had suffocated waiting for help. And where was Vlady-boi while his own countrymen were either dying or bungling their rescue? He was having a grand old time on vacation at a Dacha along the Black Sea. Despite learning about the accident, he couldn't be bothered to end his fun until days later when it was becoming apparent what a PR Nightmare the event evolved into. Again, how was his career not over?
And Norway with excellent equipment to rescue people offered help for days, until it was too late, but Russia/Putin refused, probably he wanted the sailors dead
He had backing of the Berezovsky's 1st channel media empire and soon after coming to power he subjugated what was left of the major opposition TV channels. So he basically controlled the narrative. This PR slip was at the point when the control was not fully established yet but it was fixed quick.
Putin always seems to use bad juidgement. Kursk, Beslan school and Moscow Theater botched rescue, Allowing continuous NATO expansion over 20 years until its too late allowing corruption, not challenging the oligarchs who continued to lead lives of crazy excess with yachts mansions etc.
@@brianbozo2447 - Putin have the bottle with the poison, he poison everyone, also his own people, and his generals, everyone, like a Stalin, killing everyone around him
You can’t really fault people for saying nukes were in Iraq when Saddam did literally everything he could to convince the rest of the world he had them
@@danbackslide2957 wrong. The multiple international inspectors that visited the country found no evidence of WMDs. They would not be able to do their work without cooperation of Iraq's government.
Didn't this channel used to do humorous reviews about pop culture stuff? what a bold, refreshing, necessary shift. I bet you'll get 1/4 of the Subs, but 400% of the respect. this is gonna work as long as you keep your heart in it. you're refreshingly candid for a TH-cam™ personality. keep this up, man. we need it. we do. thank you for this. -HC in 22
here is a more chilling thought: who do you want to lead russia? a capable uncorrupt competitor or ideally a drunk and then this guy? as long as they are dying quietly nobody cares, its the thrashes that bother a bit
What’s particularly frustrating about this period of Russian history, is that it’s all so unnecessary. The United States, and it’s political and economic ally’s, faced very real and fundamental idealogical differences with the Soviet Union. Differences that were irreconcilable and permanent, and that drove a very messy existential Cold War. That Cold War was only held in check by mutually assured destruction in the event of direct military confrontation. But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the fundamental economic idealogical divide evaporated. The United States, to a large extent, stopped caring about Russian politics, influence, etc., because Russia was no longer exporting an incompatible ideologically driven economic system. Paradoxically, it’s this very “irrelevance” of Russia (given its status as a minor economic power) that underpins Putin’s warped world-view. Putin can’t stand Russia’s diminished position yet, had he not risen to power, stifling Russian progress, they’d likely have re-emerged as a major economic power. In our current global economic system, all real power is derived from economic footprint. Want to field an effective and modern military, capable of real force projection? You need the economic ability to pay for it. Otherwise, you end up with Russia’s “all bling, no capability” military, dominated by prestige projects. There was another path that Russia could have taken. A path that could have led them all the way to EU and possibly even NATO membership. They could have become a dominant member of such organizations. As a modern, federal republic, they could have become a “super Germany”, a cooperative counter-balance to US power (not to mention China). This Russia would have been able to reassert effective power over their former Soviet and Imperial territories, not through tanks and military invasion, but through sheer economic mass. And those nations would probably accept such conditions gladly, given their historical ties. Hell, a reasonably democratic, economically prosperous Russia would likely find a number of those nations willing to voluntarily fold themselves into a broader union. This would be a Russia with the economic power, resource wealth, inter-continental territorial reach and military power to become a true global power. A power with true projection that neither the old Soviet Union, or the Russian Empire, ever possessed. It wouldn’t have been a linear process, but all the component seeds were there, and the economic growth potential was evident (as noted in this series). Instead, along came Putin, as documented beautifully in this series. A ruthless, clever, ambitious but, nevertheless, two-dimensional personality. His obvious frustration that Russia can’t escape its third-rate status, only continues to fuel behaviors that ensure that status is reenforced. There’s no idealogical foundation for Russia’s current policies, just the frustrated ambitions of an increasingly desperate old man who can’t see that it’s his own actions that have resulted in Russia’s stagnation. Now, with his military’s prestige destroyed, his actual military capability badly diminished, relations with his few ally’s frayed, and his nations economy in serious jeopardy, he’s also managed to do the unthinkable: he’s elevated his imagined “mortal enemy”, the United States (and its global military and political ally’s) to a new level of power. Some of this he’s been unwittingly doing for a decade. However, the majority of the damage he did to his (and Russia’s) position, he’s managed to accomplished in a breathtakingly short 60 days. In recorded history, Putin’s Ukrainian blunder will be remembered as one of the single worst decisions ever made by a head of state. One has to go back pretty far to find a single historical decision that so thoroughly and immediately failed to accomplish intended outcomes. But now is not the time for gloating or military adventurism by the west. Yes, it’s obvious that, in a conventional head-to-head confrontation, the US and NATO would decimate Russia. Putin is now acutely aware of this reality. He’s also sitting on the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world (with the second largest immediately deployable force of such weapons). Western foreign policy should be very, very careful right now, because Putin doesn’t have many cards left to play. The United States and NATO, for all of their extreme conventional military and economic might, cannot survive (let alone win) a nuclear confrontation with Russia. They should understand, as outlined above, all of Putin’s terrible decision making is tied back to his own fragile ego and identity, not an idealogical divide. He posses a doomsday button, and if his ego decides that this is “the end”, he’s more likely push that button than any Russian leader since Stalin.
One thing I'd like to add. I think the West bears a great degree of responsibility for what has happened in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. The missed opportunity for Russia that you describe was partly the result of the lack of enlightened leadership in the West to help Russia transition in the 90s to a pluralistic and just economy. Our own oligarchic political classes were happy to see Russian state assets devoured by predatory capitalist schemers. Business leaders in the US and elsewhere looked at Russia as a prospective regulation free opportunity for no-holds-barred laissez faire capitalist adventurism. Western political leaders stood silent while internal Russian predators gobbled up the assets of the Soviet state.
> faced very real and fundamental idealogical differences with the Soviet Union Same difference exists with Putin's regime. Putin sees NATO as existential threat because to his regime it really is. While NATO is not a threat to Russian nation - it is to Putin and his vision of the world where tzar style regime is free to reign their assumed geographical areas. And not because NATO would ever come to occupy Russia. It's because ideas spread - and idea of freedoms would bleed to Russia - and Russians would overthrow their tzar regime. Also because surrounding nations are understood as important sources of resources. Apart from having fertile soils and being breadbasket of the world - in 2010 Ukraine also found gas reserves in Donbas region. It could make Ukraine energy independent from Russia- something Putin fears the most as energy supply the most powerful card he holds.
i think you really hit the nail on the head by saying that the USSR disbanded and it's almost like a new Russia emerged, an economically and ideologically seperate state from its former days. However, I don't think the situation is as simple as saying that everything wrong with the current state of affairs is due to one person and that Russia had the opportunity to become a "better version" of itself. In my opinion, the problem is systematic, there was no groundwork for that to happen because after the disbanding of the USSR sattelite states seperated, however, the ideological core remained in mainland Russia, so really, only the name changed. Nearly 80 years of totallitarianism, censorship, straight up terror used on the common population left huge scars that would forever remind the former union members of what Russia as a state stands for. I don't think former members would favour political ties to a state which brought so much hurt to their country, because even though a lot of things depend on economy, some virtues are left unturned for integrity reasons as well. Furthermore, it's quite an interesting position to be in - nothing really changed in your state, however, everyone automacially treats you like a commonly imagined "better version". The West can finally lower their suspicions and try to facilitate some economic ties, but really, the changes again are all in name. And I would argue that those affected by the USSR the most have a keener sense of the actual danger that could occur because they may be more able to see through Russian "political" bullshit (i would draw a parallel to the concept of doublethink).
@@incognitomister1029 This is a great comment that begins to fill in the obvious gaps that I left in my own comment. I somewhat (disingenuously) ignored any real discussion of the conditions that led to Putin’s rise. Just a few of those being the crushing exposure to the Asian economic crisis, a failure of the global economic community to help Russia develop properly integrated economic institutions, and a general failure to understand how deeply rooted the economic morass was, created by the former Soviet Union (especially post Khrushchev). In retrospect, Russia needed the support of something akin to the Marshall Plan, but instead was mostly left to deal with the stark humiliation of being a functionally destitute shell of a failed super-power. While not quite as extreme as Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, that humiliation, along with significant economic hardship, was a major theme for many Russians during the 90’s. One of the most dangerous individual and group psychological motivators is humiliation. This is especially true when combined with economic hardship. The United States policy towards Japan and West Germany, post WW2, was to not repeat the mistakes of the post WW1 environment, and instead provide support to rebuild failed nations, and to do so in a way that allowed them some dignity (including the very controversial, but nevertheless wise decision to allow Japan’s emperor to remain on his throne). But when the USSR collapsed, the west celebrated for a bit, patted themselves on the back, snickered at what a dilapidated economic mess the USSR had been, and then alternated between ignoring or exploiting the situation (in conjunction with internal opportunists). People wonder why a significant portion of the Russian population do (actually) support Putin’s actions, but a lot of Russians still harbor (even trans-generationally) a deep sense of resentment towards the west (though admittedly, a lot of it is currently fomented by propaganda). None of this excuses the actions of Putin or Russia today (anymore than the Treaty of Versailles excuses Hitler’s actions), but it is absolutely correct to note that we ignore human behavioral tendencies, and the conditions that create such behaviors, out our collective peril. We allowed what should have been a moment of triumph for the Russian people (throwing off the shackles of a deeply repressive and destructive regime) to regress into a situation of defeat, e.g. “they lost the Cold War” and economic hardship. In that context, it comes clearer as to how the situation was primed for Putin to come to power. That said, Putin is still a jerk.
Hey bud, I want you to know that I've noticed that you've been working out. You look good. The lava lamp has been really distracting me from this discovery. The lava lamp looks good too. Good episode. Good channel.
Thank you for making this portrait of a man who seems to have no conviction beyond the strive for power and recognition. There is no telling what can happen once he completely drives his country into the wall. My feeble hope is that there are still people left in his circle of sycophants who could or would stop the worst.
@@JohnSmith-mc2zz I am unfortunately very pessimistic and thus often happy to be wrong. When Yeltsin abdicated the political system was very different but yeah, maybe.
@@lilithdvs13 Yeah… I know you didn’t. Naming his fight against homosexuals as a positive is a bit absurd to me but I know my limits and don’t think I‘ll convince you of anything. I‘m only guessing when it comes to his convictions but the homophobia is politically beneficial to him, bringing religious conservatives on his side.
Your channel is one of the bests. Merry Christmas. And yes I know this isn't on one of your Christmas watchlist video thingies, but those were all solid suggestions.
My question is how hard is he willing to thrash around if he loses. Will he show any restraint. Or is he going to knock down as many sandcastles his power allows him on his way off the beach
I am an American, and I'm an avid reader of history. I certainly don't seek to speak for Russia or throw stones, and I know there are times when my own nation walks on thin ice. I do have to ask from a historical context if Russia has ever broken this repeating cycle. Russia massive inequity and stagnant class mobility led to a communist uprising to overthrow the oligarchy. Soviet Russia was far from equal and was pulled into a similar oligarchy. The oligarchy seemed to fall apart and open up Russia to pursue democracy, but again... it seems to tragically follow the same historical beats. And I know I'm simplifying a lot of history in an attempt to hit the big-picture beats, but I look at Russia and I'm scared for my own country. Oligarchs are clearly something to be feared, and corruption spreads from them like disease. Perhaps I am only petrified by the scope of the world and how little my thoughts really mean.
This is what is called the Iron Law of Oligarchy. Generally, most governments, be they ultra-totalitarian, anarchic, absolute monarchy or neoliberal democracy, tend to return to a baseline, that being oligarchy, power controlled by a shrinking circle of unelected officials. One tends to forget that for the better part of history, democracy has been very rare, and is in fact the exception, rather than the rule. Hell, Feudalism was simply a very codified form of oligarchy and Capitalism justifies it with money rather than birthright. However, while I say all this, as a Russian, I will tell you a simple fact: if you are scared of oligarchy, and if your fellow countrymen fear it, then that means it cannot spread. Oligarchy sustains itself on apathy, that is why there was never a democracy in Russia, not even with Yeltsin (a can of worms that would extend my comment by several paragraphs, but the general gist being that he did not reduce civil or political rights because it allowed him to embezel either way, and putting in the effort was too much for the fat drunk ugly bastard), because the historical prescedent in Russia is that government isn't viewed as something you participate in, it is something far away, it's changes alien and uncontrollable, surviving through the changes of government rather than influencing it yourself, like very uncontrollable weather. People didn't care for the post-Yeltsin sham democracy, in their eyes, these were just "better times", like a year with good weather or a calm monsoon season, stable government and growing economy. The fact that it became repressive is seen by the silent majority as an annoying return to form, one that was inevitable by the nature of government, the weather has again become hostile, and it's time to learn new ways to survive.
"when my own nation walks on thin ice" Um, what? Thin ice? The US? And you call yourself an "avid reader of history"? The US keeps proving over and over that it simply has no right to exist.
sorry bad news but the US was founded as an oligarchy from the very start (mankind has not invented anything new in the last few thousand years, at least what concerns politics) unless of course you got to vote when the US decided to bomb some brown people into the stone age, when people say democracy they mean wealth
you're scared? as an american? are you serious? the only thing you need to be scared about is WW3 with Russia and if that comes into effect we're ALL gone so it really doesn't matter. until then you're safe and sound overthere and can support your current and next governments to keep meddling in foreign affairs to further put the world out of balance time and time again
I in no way mean to equate the two countries but hasn't there been research that suggests the actual decision making in the US isn't determined by the preferences of the people? And it could be argued it is, due to whose opinions end up mattering, a type of oligarchy itself. A very different one from something like Russia but still, not controlled by its people to a meaningful degree.
I've been a fan of yours for quite a while now. I want to thank you for all of your videos, which I have consistently enjoyed, but I especially want to compliment you on this Putin trilogy, which may be your masterpiece. No one else is calling this guy what he is while analyzing his entire shadowy political career as well as you have. It is so refreshing to listen to you lay him bare. Bravo, and thank you, Georg!
Fantastic work as always. There aren't any Borscht vans where I live dammit. Oh, and if your next cup of tea tastes a little sour and tingly, and you start to get a headache, don't worry, it's nothing.
It's going to be Stalin dying all over again. There's no one strong enough to overthrow them, so everyone is going to break up their piece of the pie when he inevitably dies.
9:49 I had to pause and rewatch this part, had me nearly crying laughing. Here’s hoping we see footage of Vlad getting hot under the collar soon. What a bunch of children.
It seems Russia is experiencing some time dilation, which would be logical as the sanctions brings Russia back to the cold war era. Time travel is possible after all, although at some expense.
12:23 Why Russia go involved with Syria's civil had had to do with the navy base at Tartus they lease from the Assad government, which they had been doing from the Soviet period. Also Syria was a military goods client when Hafez al-Assad was alive, so this was the culmination of decades of Soviet-Syrian and Russian-Syrian trade and military coordination, playing catspaw for Bashar al-Assad's Ba'athist government against ISIS and the Syrian rebellion. Like with all things Putin, it was a return to Tsarist form, one un-democracy backing another.
A superb trio of videos, which in my opinion even surpasses the consistently high quality of the rest of your oeuvre. My thanks for covering the topic of this loathsome tyrant. You have a remarkable ability to cut through the lies, the propaganda, the avarice and the hypocrisies that seem to be constantly shoved down all our throats with naked insolence. I've never failed to enjoy any of your presentations on any subject, although I've yet to see them all. My quest to do so continues apace. I know that whatever you come out with will not only be rational and well-researched, but entertaining as all hell. I mean, you managed to make a video about godforsaken tax-dodging justice-evading scum bastard child molesters entertaining enough to watch several times. That's the quality you bring to the proverbial table. Your clear commitment to transparency, justice, equity and the common man do you immense credit. You probably don't need me to tell you this, but you're a superlative filmmaker and, to my mind, a vision of what productions on TH-cam would look like in a better world. I regret that I'm not in a position to support you monetarily at the moment - but rest assured you'll be first in line whenever I am. Thanks for doing what you do. I hope you continue as long as you wish to. Don't order any pelmeni for a while, though.
The one thing that does puzzle me is that there's seemingly no successor being groomed by him. Usually there's a family member or political protege waiting in the wings for when the inevitable happens, to carry on his legacy. If enriching himself and his family, and what we might call Putinism is what he's doing all this for, he must know after his death, it will all have been for nothing. Someone utterly unbeholden to him and with probably little interest in his personal ideology will come along and take over, maybe even target the family he has enriched to make a point.
I always wondered what his driving points were and thought he had a mighty feared Russia in sight. But I come to the conclusion it's only because of money. What a lowlife mafioso. All what he puts the globe through only to earn some material crap and green paper.
He's probably in a 'big picture' mindset and thinks he's creating the circumstances for a 'strong' Russia. He's in deep with Dugan, so not exactly thinking realistically.
@@akaroth7542 well it's really that or give in to the new world order lol. I don't expect him to kneel and kiss anyone's ring, you feel me? He'll burn Russia to the ground and half the world before he caves.
@@maeton-gaming nah, he's just trying to recreate the Russian Empire regardless of what the populations of the places want. That's just dickcraft. He's not even doing it well.
@@leeboy2k1 " Noun. puff piece (plural puff pieces) A journalistic form of puffery; an article or story of exaggerating praise that often ignores or downplays opposing viewpoints or evidence to the contrary." And it's two words not one. Just for future note, of course.
IIRC Vladders is from the Ukrainian version of Blackadder and the Fifth Column? With Putin as Blackadder, Medvedev as George and Sergei Shoigu serving as the current Baldric. Local dub by Zelensky.
I think there is one extra-reason for the Georgian invasion that Georg didn't mention as motive: most of NATO had just given support for independence to a territory managed with NATO support, Kosovo which was opposed by Serbia which since Yeltsin's time was more or less supported by Russia economically and versus its local opponents, so the thing was mostly within a Cold War-ish tit-for-tat approach that has defined Putin's foreign policy since 2008. You do this, I do that, you support this independence within my allied space, I support this independence within your allied space, you get closer to this neighbour of mine, I attack it and prop my own puppets there, you support a government in this place, I support its military/paramilitary opposition, you support a military/paramilitary opposition here, I support its government... Putin's objective was always rebuilding Russia as a superpower but after hellish '90s he knew it wasn't realistic to make a US/Russia divided world, so he played the multipolar game for a while (relations with Germany and most of EU, mild relations with the US, relations with Iran and most neighbouring Muslim states, support against the Taliban, involvement in the BRICS, relations with both pro- and anti-western governments...), and the moment he felt Russia was developing and growing enough, he went to the imperial method and now basically only knows to play along with weaker and more dependent countries (like Belarus) and no one else unless they really need too (as the Ch1na relations now show). I like to say he went from the anti-W.-Bush (pre-2008, and only for pragmatism) to the Russian W. Bush (since then).
Yes, thanks for the reminder of the similarity between Serbia's neo-fascist ethno nationalism promoting a Greater Serbia and Putin's BS justifications. The consequences were genocide and Putin's propaganda have made Russians complicit in a similar genocidal war of aggression.
Hi Georg, I love the research and presentation style that went into this trilogy. One point I would make is that the graphs shown around 11:50 should include units on the y-axis so we know it is not disingenuous
Well that was chilling. But that last line," it will be as dangerous as it is satisfying " is what gets me. Amazing job once again, I don't think it can be explained any better.
True
If there is one thing that we can see from history, it is that when Putin goes, the people of Russia will be able to say "and then, things got worse".
As a Russian, I want to thank you for this series. It's really well done and concise, I only wish it would've been slightly longer, so that you could elaborate slightly more on all the fuckery that was going on with Putin and his gang for all this years, but other than that - extremely well done.
Natural Justice demands that Putin's Criminal wealth that is held for him in London by his lackeys, be turned into Euros and immediately distributed among the 11 million Ukrainian Refugees inside and outside Ukraine
Maybe he don't want som Polonium-210 in his Tea cup 😉😆
You will most likely know what I will say mate,
but to those reading this and wishing to look deeper into to putin's reign, I advice searching for Aleskey navalni's video on the subject, where he breaks down the entire operation this monster and his pocket pigs lead
@@yourmaninlondoncollecting5749
He is so paranoid (and deservedly so) that he probably has some poor bastard who takes a sip of his tea before it even makes it into the same room as him.
If its going to happen, it will hopefully be during a public appearance for the world to see, struck down by a traumatised parent of one of the boy soldiers he sent to die, or a Russian who has lost Russo-Unkrani family members at the hands of his "special military operation" death squads.
To dust off an olde English proverb; "I wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire..."
You are no Russian! Shut up!
As Russian, I avoided commenting on this series till the end, because I didn't want to praise you in advance and then be disappointed. So often I saw documentaries on Putin depicting him in a grey color, "look, he did some awful things, but he's so strong and charismatic, and smart, what a strategist" and all that jazz.
After february, 24th I saw that people outside Russia, in Europe, USA, even in Ukraine, totally don't understand who Putin is. What he did and what he does to our country, to our people for 20 years. Y'all don't even know what was going on here for last 3 years.
This series... I applaud you, Georg, thank you for your work.
Pryvet. There have been a lot of comments lately trying to analyse pro-Putin sentiment in the west through ideological and philosophical reasons, but I think there is an element often forgotten: for later-Gen-Xers and millenials opposing George W. Bush and Iraq was a defining part of their politics this century, and pre-2008 Putin seemed to be the "anti-W.-Bush" whose foreign policy was not marked by unipolar unilateral action but defending world multipolarism: relations with Germany and most of EU, mild relations with the US, relations with Iran and most neighbouring Muslim states, support against the Taliban and islamist terrorism in general together with many governments, involvement in the BRICS, relations with both pro- and anti-western governments... And in those times, many got a false image of Putin as a less imperialist and more multilateralist alternative to Bush Junior. What they failed to understand is that Putin's objective was always rebuilding Russia (under him and his supporters, naturally) as a dominating (locally and globally) superpower, but after hellish '90s he knew it wasn't realistic to make a US/Russia divided world (yet), so he played the multipolar game for a while, and the moment he felt Russia was developing and growing enough, he went to the imperial method and now basically only knows how to play along with weaker and more dependent countries (like Belarus) and no one else unless they really need too and very begrudgingly (as the Ch1na relations now show) and is insolating Russia by the day. I guess many misjudged Putin for years due to that and have a hard time admiting they were fooled. Da Svidanyia and stay safe in these crazy times out there.
What was going on there for the last 3 years? Please tell us if you can. Also, any info on the situation now, what people say, what you see and what is the mood of the people. Thank you ✋❤️
All the best from Poland
@@MrManio1000 I started to write a response outlining recent events, but it turned out so haphazard, so I need some time to put together a coherent timeline with enough explanation and advices for further information. Right now I just can say it's been a lot. Total shit show of lies, censorship and violence.
On the current situation, I can say that the society is very poralized. Some are devastated, some are so brainwashed by our propaganda earning their fee. Families even break apart because people don't want to hear the truth. All free media are banned, most of them left the country. Peaceful protesters are arrested for standing in single picket with blank paper or Tolstoy's War and peace for "discrediting Russian army". As a cherry on cake, we have a new law "about fakes" - you'll be heavily fined or get prison term up to 15 years for spreading misinformation about the army. Misinformation in this context is anything that wasn't reported about the "special operation" (aka the war) by our Ministry of defense. So now people are very cautious with their words.
@@engaby
You poor people. I hope this will end soon. I know a lot will not change, but at least hope they will stop sending men to fight, on both sides. I feel terrible for the mothers and the families. Please do not lose hope.
@@MrManio1000 thank you. Really hoping for peace and freedom
Yeaaah...i was getting into a good mood. About time for you to put that to an end.
You can't imagine how tragically devastated I feel, actually being born and living in russia for the last 32 years.
The scary thing is, even leaving a like and this comment underneath this video could potentially lead to prosecution, fine and/or imprisonment, but I'm too past caring now.
Bless you brother, you must endure. My heart is with you.
Freedom can be yours. You must resist.
If it helps, it’s clear from here (EU/UK), that all this not a ‘Russian people’ thing and very much a ‘putin thing’. There is a future for a Russian state, with its culture and history, but not it’s leadership.
I hope you are doing as well as possible given the current circumstances. I’m so very sorry you are caught up in the middle of all of this. It’s absolutely not the fault of ordinary Russians, and I know it must be terrifying trying to be a progressively minded, inquisitive person in such an oppressive situation. Please stay safe. I hope you’ll be able to feel more pride in your country someday soon. 💜
@@onemorechris It does help.
At the same time there is still so much support for the current regime among the general populace, like, people in all seriousness driving around with z's on their windshields and rallying to state-organized pro-war concerts (true barf-fest in its very concept), and even in discussions with people generally opposed to the United Russia and war I can still hear phrases parroting the state propaganda ("The west is still the enemy", "NATO shouldn't have expanded" and so on).
To change the regime, you would have to change the minds, and this makes all hope seem distant. Several generations distant.
As a citizen of Ukraine who was forced to flee his home with his family because of Russia's absolutely destructive and barbaric aggression, I want to thank you for this video. Unlike many Western observers, you have grasped the essence of Putin's anti-human regime and his personal psychological portrait by following all the major steps that have led to the current situation with completely rational conclusions. I have had to discuss many times with people from different countries who perceived the Putin regime as simply corrupt-opportunistic, not imperial and Nazi, and Russians as "innocent victims" rather than a historically oppressive construct prone to such behavior and model of the state. Now, as a structured answer to the first question, I will use the link to the three parts of your video to save time and effort. Thank you once again!
I'm _not_ Ukrainian (British) but I've also always wondered why people don't notice that how many chances at freedom are you willing to give Russians before you realise that being a ruled-people is what they desire the most?
Something you wonder whether had been bred specifically for the purpose of playing the role of, "Subjects"?
The Tsar is dead, long live the Tsar.
To me it is baffling how deeply entrenched unhuman treatment seems to be in russia. yet i live in a country in which this has changed in just two generations, and don't tell me one could have seen this coming in germany - times have changed. Now there is little to compare between russia and germany, but i don't see historical necessities, and i hope future generations of ukrainians will have better luck with their eastern neighbors.
Best of wishes to you
@@MostlyPennyCat No. This video, for example, explicitly documents how Putin first neutered (or controlled) the oligarchs and then suppressed the 'proles'. Russian people may on the surface may be prone to wish to be led by a 'strong man' but you could say that about any people or county on the planet. Political instability allowed such a man to take over but Russians themselves were some of the first to offer opposition. They even had a revolution 100 years ago. Britain is yet to match that level of individualism.
@@kyletitterton
I know it's not _actually_ true.
But for a developed nation, they sure do love their authoritarian strong men.
@@kyletitterton
Also I'd say they've had two revolutions in the last 100 years.
Both times they replaced a strong man with a strong man.
And no, we've not had a revolution here in the UK in the last 100 years.
We're actually quite proud of that.
We had two, both in the 17th century.
First one we executed the king and became the commonwealth.
Then we realised Cromwell was a dick and revolutioned back where we started, except with a monarch who ruled at the will of the parliament.
Respect for a sombre and genuine analytics.
"Putin saw this as an existential threat, or at least a threat to his pride." For psychopaths, there's no difference.
oh wow, well said - there truly is no difference!
That would make 80+ % of the Russians as psychopaths as well, for supporting him. Are you ready to diagnose 120-130 millions of people..?
Been enjoying your series on this. Very good. Thanks for the hard work!
Georg, you left your Hanna Montana discography at my house again.
This series on putin has been incredibly informative and a totally engrossing watch. Thank you so much for your excellent content, and stay safe.
"Hope lies in the proles" (6:35) is a reference to 1984
I've always been curious how Putin's political career wasn't over after the Kursk Disaster? In case you're unaware in the year 2000, his first year in office, a Nuclear Submarine christened as "Kursk" unexpectedly exploded and sank to the bottom of the Barents Sea during a training exercise. The Kremlin was ready to simply right the crew off as dead until British and American Intelligence broadcasted that they could hear tapping within its hull, indicating their survival. When offered foreign assistance, they played dumb while they tried in vain to launch a rescue with faulty, out-dated Soviet equipment. When that failed, they lied to the family of the sailors with the ludicrous claim that it sank because of an NATO attack which outraged one parent to the point where the FSB was caught on camera injecting her with anesthesia in broad daylight. Finally, by the time where the Kremlin accepted help from a Norwegian Deep Diver Team, it was too late and the crew had suffocated waiting for help.
And where was Vlady-boi while his own countrymen were either dying or bungling their rescue? He was having a grand old time on vacation at a Dacha along the Black Sea. Despite learning about the accident, he couldn't be bothered to end his fun until days later when it was becoming apparent what a PR Nightmare the event evolved into. Again, how was his career not over?
Because he is essentially a monarch, not a president. His power lay not in votes, but in force. So the popular opinion is little to no effect on him
And Norway with excellent equipment to rescue people offered help for days, until it was too late, but Russia/Putin refused, probably he wanted the sailors dead
He had backing of the Berezovsky's 1st channel media empire and soon after coming to power he subjugated what was left of the major opposition TV channels. So he basically controlled the narrative. This PR slip was at the point when the control was not fully established yet but it was fixed quick.
Putin always seems to use bad juidgement. Kursk, Beslan school and Moscow Theater botched rescue, Allowing continuous NATO expansion over 20 years until its too late allowing corruption, not challenging the oligarchs who continued to lead lives of crazy excess with yachts mansions etc.
@@brianbozo2447 - Putin have the bottle with the poison, he poison everyone, also his own people, and his generals, everyone, like a Stalin, killing everyone around him
I Love your videos Georg! Please keep doing what you're doing!
Schmidt-son, i look forward to your videos and always smile at their release. That is all. That is what I can offer you.
>the CIA said Putin interfered in 2016
I remember when they said there were nukes in Iraq too.
You can’t really fault people for saying nukes were in Iraq when Saddam did literally everything he could to convince the rest of the world he had them
@@danbackslide2957 wrong. The multiple international inspectors that visited the country found no evidence of WMDs. They would not be able to do their work without cooperation of Iraq's government.
Didn't this channel used to do humorous reviews about pop culture stuff?
what a bold, refreshing, necessary shift. I bet you'll get 1/4 of the Subs, but 400% of the respect. this is gonna work as long as you keep your heart in it. you're refreshingly candid for a TH-cam™ personality. keep this up, man. we need it. we do. thank you for this.
-HC in 22
@@criminalsaint9611 It's because of the lack of integrity in the West that grifting "paying the bills" like this video is shat before us.
He's always have a variety of stuff
Was gonna say fk respect, who cares about that in this world fs.
Call me spoiled but id want both content 🤫
"Russia's handsomest man?" He looks like a guy who sends emails about the dress code.
Thank you for being so thorough in your research for this topic. I think its important to give this context to english speaking audiences right now.
here is a more chilling thought: who do you want to lead russia? a capable uncorrupt competitor or ideally a drunk and then this guy? as long as they are dying quietly nobody cares, its the thrashes that bother a bit
@@rusalkin im sorry, what do you mean? Literally. I don't get the point of your comment.
@@eenuff you just won the cold war, you get to pick who gets to be president of russia, who do you pick? a winner or a loser?
@@rusalkin are you asking who I'd choose to be the president Putin or Yeltsin?
@@eenuff between putin - yeltsin and stalin
What’s particularly frustrating about this period of Russian history, is that it’s all so unnecessary. The United States, and it’s political and economic ally’s, faced very real and fundamental idealogical differences with the Soviet Union. Differences that were irreconcilable and permanent, and that drove a very messy existential Cold War. That Cold War was only held in check by mutually assured destruction in the event of direct military confrontation.
But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the fundamental economic idealogical divide evaporated. The United States, to a large extent, stopped caring about Russian politics, influence, etc., because Russia was no longer exporting an incompatible ideologically driven economic system. Paradoxically, it’s this very “irrelevance” of Russia (given its status as a minor economic power) that underpins Putin’s warped world-view. Putin can’t stand Russia’s diminished position yet, had he not risen to power, stifling Russian progress, they’d likely have re-emerged as a major economic power. In our current global economic system, all real power is derived from economic footprint. Want to field an effective and modern military, capable of real force projection? You need the economic ability to pay for it. Otherwise, you end up with Russia’s “all bling, no capability” military, dominated by prestige projects.
There was another path that Russia could have taken. A path that could have led them all the way to EU and possibly even NATO membership. They could have become a dominant member of such organizations. As a modern, federal republic, they could have become a “super Germany”, a cooperative counter-balance to US power (not to mention China). This Russia would have been able to reassert effective power over their former Soviet and Imperial territories, not through tanks and military invasion, but through sheer economic mass. And those nations would probably accept such conditions gladly, given their historical ties. Hell, a reasonably democratic, economically prosperous Russia would likely find a number of those nations willing to voluntarily fold themselves into a broader union. This would be a Russia with the economic power, resource wealth, inter-continental territorial reach and military power to become a true global power. A power with true projection that neither the old Soviet Union, or the Russian Empire, ever possessed. It wouldn’t have been a linear process, but all the component seeds were there, and the economic growth potential was evident (as noted in this series).
Instead, along came Putin, as documented beautifully in this series. A ruthless, clever, ambitious but, nevertheless, two-dimensional personality. His obvious frustration that Russia can’t escape its third-rate status, only continues to fuel behaviors that ensure that status is reenforced. There’s no idealogical foundation for Russia’s current policies, just the frustrated ambitions of an increasingly desperate old man who can’t see that it’s his own actions that have resulted in Russia’s stagnation.
Now, with his military’s prestige destroyed, his actual military capability badly diminished, relations with his few ally’s frayed, and his nations economy in serious jeopardy, he’s also managed to do the unthinkable: he’s elevated his imagined “mortal enemy”, the United States (and its global military and political ally’s) to a new level of power. Some of this he’s been unwittingly doing for a decade. However, the majority of the damage he did to his (and Russia’s) position, he’s managed to accomplished in a breathtakingly short 60 days. In recorded history, Putin’s Ukrainian blunder will be remembered as one of the single worst decisions ever made by a head of state. One has to go back pretty far to find a single historical decision that so thoroughly and immediately failed to accomplish intended outcomes.
But now is not the time for gloating or military adventurism by the west. Yes, it’s obvious that, in a conventional head-to-head confrontation, the US and NATO would decimate Russia. Putin is now acutely aware of this reality. He’s also sitting on the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world (with the second largest immediately deployable force of such weapons). Western foreign policy should be very, very careful right now, because Putin doesn’t have many cards left to play. The United States and NATO, for all of their extreme conventional military and economic might, cannot survive (let alone win) a nuclear confrontation with Russia. They should understand, as outlined above, all of Putin’s terrible decision making is tied back to his own fragile ego and identity, not an idealogical divide. He posses a doomsday button, and if his ego decides that this is “the end”, he’s more likely push that button than any Russian leader since Stalin.
Thanks for one the best YT comments one rarely sees. You've given a big picture assessment. I agree with you across the board.
One thing I'd like to add. I think the West bears a great degree of responsibility for what has happened in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. The missed opportunity for Russia that you describe was partly the result of the lack of enlightened leadership in the West to help Russia transition in the 90s to a pluralistic and just economy. Our own oligarchic political classes were happy to see Russian state assets devoured by predatory capitalist schemers. Business leaders in the US and elsewhere looked at Russia as a prospective regulation free opportunity for no-holds-barred laissez faire capitalist adventurism. Western political leaders stood silent while internal Russian predators gobbled up the assets of the Soviet state.
> faced very real and fundamental idealogical differences with the Soviet Union
Same difference exists with Putin's regime. Putin sees NATO as existential threat because to his regime it really is. While NATO is not a threat to Russian nation - it is to Putin and his vision of the world where tzar style regime is free to reign their assumed geographical areas. And not because NATO would ever come to occupy Russia. It's because ideas spread - and idea of freedoms would bleed to Russia - and Russians would overthrow their tzar regime. Also because surrounding nations are understood as important sources of resources. Apart from having fertile soils and being breadbasket of the world - in 2010 Ukraine also found gas reserves in Donbas region. It could make Ukraine energy independent from Russia- something Putin fears the most as energy supply the most powerful card he holds.
i think you really hit the nail on the head by saying that the USSR disbanded and it's almost like a new Russia emerged, an economically and ideologically seperate state from its former days. However, I don't think the situation is as simple as saying that everything wrong with the current state of affairs is due to one person and that Russia had the opportunity to become a "better version" of itself. In my opinion, the problem is systematic, there was no groundwork for that to happen because after the disbanding of the USSR sattelite states seperated, however, the ideological core remained in mainland Russia, so really, only the name changed. Nearly 80 years of totallitarianism, censorship, straight up terror used on the common population left huge scars that would forever remind the former union members of what Russia as a state stands for. I don't think former members would favour political ties to a state which brought so much hurt to their country, because even though a lot of things depend on economy, some virtues are left unturned for integrity reasons as well.
Furthermore, it's quite an interesting position to be in - nothing really changed in your state, however, everyone automacially treats you like a commonly imagined "better version". The West can finally lower their suspicions and try to facilitate some economic ties, but really, the changes again are all in name. And I would argue that those affected by the USSR the most have a keener sense of the actual danger that could occur because they may be more able to see through Russian "political" bullshit (i would draw a parallel to the concept of doublethink).
@@incognitomister1029 This is a great comment that begins to fill in the obvious gaps that I left in my own comment. I somewhat (disingenuously) ignored any real discussion of the conditions that led to Putin’s rise. Just a few of those being the crushing exposure to the Asian economic crisis, a failure of the global economic community to help Russia develop properly integrated economic institutions, and a general failure to understand how deeply rooted the economic morass was, created by the former Soviet Union (especially post Khrushchev).
In retrospect, Russia needed the support of something akin to the Marshall Plan, but instead was mostly left to deal with the stark humiliation of being a functionally destitute shell of a failed super-power. While not quite as extreme as Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, that humiliation, along with significant economic hardship, was a major theme for many Russians during the 90’s.
One of the most dangerous individual and group psychological motivators is humiliation. This is especially true when combined with economic hardship. The United States policy towards Japan and West Germany, post WW2, was to not repeat the mistakes of the post WW1 environment, and instead provide support to rebuild failed nations, and to do so in a way that allowed them some dignity (including the very controversial, but nevertheless wise decision to allow Japan’s emperor to remain on his throne).
But when the USSR collapsed, the west celebrated for a bit, patted themselves on the back, snickered at what a dilapidated economic mess the USSR had been, and then alternated between ignoring or exploiting the situation (in conjunction with internal opportunists). People wonder why a significant portion of the Russian population do (actually) support Putin’s actions, but a lot of Russians still harbor (even trans-generationally) a deep sense of resentment towards the west (though admittedly, a lot of it is currently fomented by propaganda).
None of this excuses the actions of Putin or Russia today (anymore than the Treaty of Versailles excuses Hitler’s actions), but it is absolutely correct to note that we ignore human behavioral tendencies, and the conditions that create such behaviors, out our collective peril. We allowed what should have been a moment of triumph for the Russian people (throwing off the shackles of a deeply repressive and destructive regime) to regress into a situation of defeat, e.g. “they lost the Cold War” and economic hardship. In that context, it comes clearer as to how the situation was primed for Putin to come to power.
That said, Putin is still a jerk.
Hey bud, I want you to know that I've noticed that you've been working out. You look good. The lava lamp has been really distracting me from this discovery. The lava lamp looks good too. Good episode. Good channel.
9:48 Wow. Amazing editing. And a keen eye to spot that moment.
Great series. Though I'd avoid any suspicious cups of tea you encounter from now on.
Careful you might get Novichok
I'm getting Adam Curtis vibes while watching this video. The editing is top notch. It's good stuff.
Thank you for adding some actual information and sense to this conversation
Georg. Please make a sequel! Part 4 or something. Thank you.
Thank you for making this portrait of a man who seems to have no conviction beyond the strive for power and recognition. There is no telling what can happen once he completely drives his country into the wall. My feeble hope is that there are still people left in his circle of sycophants who could or would stop the worst.
@@JohnSmith-mc2zz I am unfortunately very pessimistic and thus often happy to be wrong. When Yeltsin abdicated the political system was very different but yeah, maybe.
There is no hope for Russia now, only the ancient path of obscurity and poverty for the sake of petty tyrants who demand more, more, always more.
As opposed to the altruistic western leaders... You're a brainwashed sheep just bleating out what you are told to bleat out.
@@lilithdvs13 K. What a hero that guy is.
@@lilithdvs13 Yeah… I know you didn’t. Naming his fight against homosexuals as a positive is a bit absurd to me but I know my limits and don’t think I‘ll convince you of anything.
I‘m only guessing when it comes to his convictions but the homophobia is politically beneficial to him, bringing religious conservatives on his side.
As soon as you can bother is how this whole channel Is run and I like it
Your channel is one of the bests. Merry Christmas. And yes I know this isn't on one of your Christmas watchlist video thingies, but those were all solid suggestions.
Putin all those informations together was nice of you , thanks Georg great videos 👍
“Perfidious Albion” has never rung so true.
Peak Georg. Enjoyed this series immensely.
I'm really loving this Putin series!
My question is how hard is he willing to thrash around if he loses. Will he show any restraint. Or is he going to knock down as many sandcastles his power allows him on his way off the beach
You are doing damn good work.
Ditto!
Really well done, Georg. Thanks for continuing with your work.
Bravo. What a wonderful job you did on this three-part series. This should be broadcast worldwide.
Except the Steele dossier, the key piece of evidence to prove trump is puppet, is total bullshit.
You can watch garbage like that on any western channel already..
Really enjoyed these, like everything from George. Similar to Adam Curtis, which is a compliment.
I am an American, and I'm an avid reader of history. I certainly don't seek to speak for Russia or throw stones, and I know there are times when my own nation walks on thin ice. I do have to ask from a historical context if Russia has ever broken this repeating cycle.
Russia massive inequity and stagnant class mobility led to a communist uprising to overthrow the oligarchy.
Soviet Russia was far from equal and was pulled into a similar oligarchy.
The oligarchy seemed to fall apart and open up Russia to pursue democracy, but again... it seems to tragically follow the same historical beats.
And I know I'm simplifying a lot of history in an attempt to hit the big-picture beats, but I look at Russia and I'm scared for my own country. Oligarchs are clearly something to be feared, and corruption spreads from them like disease. Perhaps I am only petrified by the scope of the world and how little my thoughts really mean.
This is what is called the Iron Law of Oligarchy. Generally, most governments, be they ultra-totalitarian, anarchic, absolute monarchy or neoliberal democracy, tend to return to a baseline, that being oligarchy, power controlled by a shrinking circle of unelected officials. One tends to forget that for the better part of history, democracy has been very rare, and is in fact the exception, rather than the rule. Hell, Feudalism was simply a very codified form of oligarchy and Capitalism justifies it with money rather than birthright.
However, while I say all this, as a Russian, I will tell you a simple fact: if you are scared of oligarchy, and if your fellow countrymen fear it, then that means it cannot spread. Oligarchy sustains itself on apathy, that is why there was never a democracy in Russia, not even with Yeltsin (a can of worms that would extend my comment by several paragraphs, but the general gist being that he did not reduce civil or political rights because it allowed him to embezel either way, and putting in the effort was too much for the fat drunk ugly bastard), because the historical prescedent in Russia is that government isn't viewed as something you participate in, it is something far away, it's changes alien and uncontrollable, surviving through the changes of government rather than influencing it yourself, like very uncontrollable weather.
People didn't care for the post-Yeltsin sham democracy, in their eyes, these were just "better times", like a year with good weather or a calm monsoon season, stable government and growing economy. The fact that it became repressive is seen by the silent majority as an annoying return to form, one that was inevitable by the nature of government, the weather has again become hostile, and it's time to learn new ways to survive.
"when my own nation walks on thin ice"
Um, what? Thin ice? The US? And you call yourself an "avid reader of history"? The US keeps proving over and over that it simply has no right to exist.
sorry bad news but the US was founded as an oligarchy from the very start (mankind has not invented anything new in the last few thousand years, at least what concerns politics) unless of course you got to vote when the US decided to bomb some brown people into the stone age, when people say democracy they mean wealth
you're scared? as an american? are you serious? the only thing you need to be scared about is WW3 with Russia and if that comes into effect we're ALL gone so it really doesn't matter. until then you're safe and sound overthere and can support your current and next governments to keep meddling in foreign affairs to further put the world out of balance time and time again
I in no way mean to equate the two countries but hasn't there been research that suggests the actual decision making in the US isn't determined by the preferences of the people? And it could be argued it is, due to whose opinions end up mattering, a type of oligarchy itself. A very different one from something like Russia but still, not controlled by its people to a meaningful degree.
In ability I truly view you in the same vein as Herzog… Pls keeping making videos until you suck or lose interests 🙏
I've been a fan of yours for quite a while now. I want to thank you for all of your videos, which I have consistently enjoyed, but I especially want to compliment you on this Putin trilogy, which may be your masterpiece. No one else is calling this guy what he is while analyzing his entire shadowy political career as well as you have. It is so refreshing to listen to you lay him bare. Bravo, and thank you, Georg!
Excellent video. Just wanted to show my appreciation.
Really enjoyed your 3-parter. Great work. - Free Navalny!
Was Georg singing the Art Attack theme tune?!
That was the most ominous intro music ever.. love it!
Can we have a 4th part to the trilogy about how the future might play out?
Topical as they are for the moment, these have lasting value as art, I feel.
*snaps pen*
i thought that only happened in the movies
A very clear analysis.
Great video!!!
Fantastic work as always. There aren't any Borscht vans where I live dammit.
Oh, and if your next cup of tea tastes a little sour and tingly, and you start to get a headache, don't worry, it's nothing.
Careful you might get Novichok
Very well done as always my friend
music at 0:21 is Тёмная ночь by
Alexander Bogdanov
"my president ain't no hobbit..." Ok Kanye
The power vaccum that'll follow Putins death/fall from power is something that I think about constantly. It's gonna be nutz.
Same
It's going to be Stalin dying all over again. There's no one strong enough to overthrow them, so everyone is going to break up their piece of the pie when he inevitably dies.
enjoyed cheers georgo remember to get some fresh air
9:49 I had to pause and rewatch this part, had me nearly crying laughing.
Here’s hoping we see footage of Vlad getting hot under the collar soon. What a bunch of children.
Three times, well four because I clicked your timestamp, here.
That's called upper body strength. Look it up.
@@sprobablycancr4457 , watch closely, the pen remains in one piece, strength notwithstanding.
@@paineoftheworld I did the exact same thing haha
Was that the art attack theme song at the end?
Good video!
Amazingly good work. On point 100%
Putin to Russian soldiers: Welcome too week 6 of our 2 day invasion.
Western leaders to the lower classes..welcome to day 800+ of the 'great r3set'
It seems Russia is experiencing some time dilation, which would be logical as the sanctions brings Russia back to the cold war era. Time travel is possible after all, although at some expense.
God modern western people are dumb. You hear something on the media and you take it for truth. 2 day invasion.. for the love of.....
Same shit that happened with the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.
Glad you're not moving too far! Just found out you were in the Indy area. Safe travels. Use your gas wisely!
12:23 Why Russia go involved with Syria's civil had had to do with the navy base at Tartus they lease from the Assad government, which they had been doing from the Soviet period. Also Syria was a military goods client when Hafez al-Assad was alive, so this was the culmination of decades of Soviet-Syrian and Russian-Syrian trade and military coordination, playing catspaw for Bashar al-Assad's Ba'athist government against ISIS and the Syrian rebellion. Like with all things Putin, it was a return to Tsarist form, one un-democracy backing another.
I am really digging these videos. Thank you!
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Thanks. If that wasn't depressing enough - now I've got the Art Attack theme stuck in my head as well.
I completely lost it at the public announcer over the throat singers, it's meme-worthy
A fine piece of research journalism.well done Mr Smith
"at least Hitled believed in the crazy shit he said" George, 2022.
I wonder, will you also do one of these exposés on Benjamin Netanyahu?
Dude doesn't want to get demonitized.
Good stuff man. Do the brabant killers and sinking the rainbow warrior next.
Thanks for that focus. Very interesting 🤔
that was definitely the theme tune to 'art attack' at the end lol
Please you or someone make a backup channel and just upload the entirety of your channel
Waiting for the 4’th part “Putin’s Fall”.
since this is the end of the trilogy... we're about to get a 2 part prequel, right?
I'm more afraid of the sequel.
Excellent work. Very glad I stumbled across your channel.
fantastic video
I love your framing of background figures, standing just behind Putin. Their eyes say a lot.
Well reasoned and presented.
I feel like when you make the 4th video in this series it will be titled “Putins Downfall” or “Putins Rampage”.
Nice work, and all totally spot on! Tops advice, don't accept any offers of cups of tea.
can you make a playlist of these putin videos
Great series
Great series. I really really enjoyed this one. Please do more geopolitics stuff because this one was simply phenomenal.
Rather good mate. Cheers
Damn, those videos were really good
Best channel on youtube
1st class video, as always. 🙂👍🏻
fantastic intro close shot
A superb trio of videos, which in my opinion even surpasses the consistently high quality of the rest of your oeuvre. My thanks for covering the topic of this loathsome tyrant.
You have a remarkable ability to cut through the lies, the propaganda, the avarice and the hypocrisies that seem to be constantly shoved down all our throats with naked insolence. I've never failed to enjoy any of your presentations on any subject, although I've yet to see them all. My quest to do so continues apace. I know that whatever you come out with will not only be rational and well-researched, but entertaining as all hell. I mean, you managed to make a video about godforsaken tax-dodging justice-evading scum bastard child molesters entertaining enough to watch several times. That's the quality you bring to the proverbial table.
Your clear commitment to transparency, justice, equity and the common man do you immense credit. You probably don't need me to tell you this, but you're a superlative filmmaker and, to my mind, a vision of what productions on TH-cam would look like in a better world. I regret that I'm not in a position to support you monetarily at the moment - but rest assured you'll be first in line whenever I am.
Thanks for doing what you do. I hope you continue as long as you wish to.
Don't order any pelmeni for a while, though.
Hope you do one on Erdogan those two share some similarities
The one thing that does puzzle me is that there's seemingly no successor being groomed by him. Usually there's a family member or political protege waiting in the wings for when the inevitable happens, to carry on his legacy. If enriching himself and his family, and what we might call Putinism is what he's doing all this for, he must know after his death, it will all have been for nothing.
Someone utterly unbeholden to him and with probably little interest in his personal ideology will come along and take over, maybe even target the family he has enriched to make a point.
I always wondered what his driving points were and thought he had a mighty feared Russia in sight. But I come to the conclusion it's only because of money. What a lowlife mafioso. All what he puts the globe through only to earn some material crap and green paper.
He's probably in a 'big picture' mindset and thinks he's creating the circumstances for a 'strong' Russia. He's in deep with Dugan, so not exactly thinking realistically.
@@akaroth7542 well it's really that or give in to the new world order lol. I don't expect him to kneel and kiss anyone's ring, you feel me? He'll burn Russia to the ground and half the world before he caves.
@@maeton-gaming nah, he's just trying to recreate the Russian Empire regardless of what the populations of the places want. That's just dickcraft. He's not even doing it well.
he has family .
Brilliant takedown of a vile, seedy little man.
I'm sure the East is quaking in their boots at this puffpiece.
@@leeboy2k1 " Noun. puff piece (plural puff pieces) A journalistic form of puffery; an article or story of exaggerating praise that often ignores or downplays opposing viewpoints or evidence to the contrary." And it's two words not one. Just for future note, of course.
As opposed to who? Biden? Macron? Johnson? Keep bleating sheep. You just do what you are told and think what you are told to think.
Yep the Kremlin Gremlins are malding.
Wow thank you. Damn well done. Content like yours is why I defend TH-cam to people that think it's just a mindless mine field of mindlessness.
Make one of these on Tony Blair. New Labour's roots in The Militant Tendency, illegal wars etc.
IIRC Vladders is from the Ukrainian version of Blackadder and the Fifth Column? With Putin as Blackadder, Medvedev as George and Sergei Shoigu serving as the current Baldric. Local dub by Zelensky.
I think there is one extra-reason for the Georgian invasion that Georg didn't mention as motive: most of NATO had just given support for independence to a territory managed with NATO support, Kosovo which was opposed by Serbia which since Yeltsin's time was more or less supported by Russia economically and versus its local opponents, so the thing was mostly within a Cold War-ish tit-for-tat approach that has defined Putin's foreign policy since 2008. You do this, I do that, you support this independence within my allied space, I support this independence within your allied space, you get closer to this neighbour of mine, I attack it and prop my own puppets there, you support a government in this place, I support its military/paramilitary opposition, you support a military/paramilitary opposition here, I support its government... Putin's objective was always rebuilding Russia as a superpower but after hellish '90s he knew it wasn't realistic to make a US/Russia divided world, so he played the multipolar game for a while (relations with Germany and most of EU, mild relations with the US, relations with Iran and most neighbouring Muslim states, support against the Taliban, involvement in the BRICS, relations with both pro- and anti-western governments...), and the moment he felt Russia was developing and growing enough, he went to the imperial method and now basically only knows to play along with weaker and more dependent countries (like Belarus) and no one else unless they really need too (as the Ch1na relations now show). I like to say he went from the anti-W.-Bush (pre-2008, and only for pragmatism) to the Russian W. Bush (since then).
Yes, thanks for the reminder of the similarity between Serbia's neo-fascist ethno nationalism promoting a Greater Serbia and Putin's BS justifications.
The consequences were genocide and Putin's propaganda have made Russians complicit in a similar genocidal war of aggression.
Hi Georg, I love the research and presentation style that went into this trilogy. One point I would make is that the graphs shown around 11:50 should include units on the y-axis so we know it is not disingenuous
It's percentages.
@@talideon without seeing the primary source it's often unwise to assume these things
This whole masterpiece is one big pile of garbage. Maestro should stick to the degeneracy of the House Wives. He seem do better with western trash
Was that the Art Attack theme tune?
I always look forward to your videos Georg!