Julia Ioffe sul perché il Putinismo non morirà con Putin

Well yeah, the entire Russian elite structure is comprised of people who either grew up and advanced in the same environment that produced Putin in the first place, or under Putin himself.

People are the products of their environment, and Russia has never once had a truly free and democratic transfer of power. Ever. Putin will die eventually, but he’s hardly going to be replaced by some kind of Russian Ed Miliband. 

Very nice article overall, but the interviewer completely omits Julia Ioffe’s reasoning behind the title. If anyone knows Julia Ioffe’s writings better, maybe they can quote her here?

I’ll provide two other reasons why the title is true though:

1st) *“The Russians have actually managed to really ramp up the defense industry capability, put it on a war footing. Then the unfortunate and quite dark logic arises from that: Once you’ve done all these things, once you’ve ramped up your economy or put it on a war footing, then there’s not an easy way of going back. So they will probably have to maximize,”*

[https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/04/europe-already-planning-what-happens-if-ukraine-loses-its-ugly/395715/](https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/04/europe-already-planning-what-happens-if-ukraine-loses-its-ugly/395715/)

2nd) All empires wind up having “elite overproduction” as described by Peter Turchin, which destabilizes them if not controlled. Russia has comitted to stability through expansion:

[https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/164-peter-turchin](https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/164-peter-turchin)

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwfB-vXXKWU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwfB-vXXKWU)

Solution? Europe must on-shore production for essential weapons parts, like microchips, and provide Ukraine with supplies, weapons, weapons parts for drones, air power if possible, and even troops.

Why Troops? You’ll want people who’ve experence fighting Russia using modern tools whenever Russia expands elsewhere.

Trumpism won’t die with Trump too.

Of course. Ideologies don’t die with one leader dying. However such death can give turmoil and from such turmoil it can develop differently.

Zionism won’t disappear with Netanyahu’s death either.

We have seen this in the past: communism never disappeared, but man there are differences between Marx, Trotsky, Lenin, Stalin communisms..

As for Russia itself? What really can the west do?

Well supporting independentism and leading by example are great ways to destabilise an empire. In possibly peace times we could theoretically show the world what there is to gain from democracy and a breakdown in smaller independent nations.

Tourism, travelling, international exchange can help.

All of this, of course, on the premise that Europe does manage to reach a good situation, a good wealth and health balance with western world values.

Can it be done? Indeed. Can it be done under capitalism? Doubt.

But hopefully we’ll push for high levels of socialism once this rightwing wave ceases. If i can manage to push for my organisation…maybe we’ll see a great positive chain effect.