It is important to watch the ideological war playing out alongside the possibility of a military conflict. Mr. Putin wants Ukrainians and the world to believe that the eastern half of the country supports him. And, indeed, myths and stereotypes have a way of breeding along the country’s endless, poorly maintained roads. They are already deeply rooted in the Ukrainian mind: The myth of the aggressive nationalist from the west has long had as its counterpart the equally unfounded myth of the Russian-speaking easterner who, brainwashed by Russian propaganda, would take slavery in a totalitarian state over membership in NATO or the European Union. These myths were most apparent during the Orange Revolution of 2004, and they have been used by both sides to gain power. In the east, people are terrified of the “Orange Plague”; in the west, people are terrified of “Donetsk criminals.” As long as these myths were believed, the political forces in question have been able to use power for their own gain, sustaining the people on political speculations and intimidation instead of enacting meaningful economic reforms.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 00:47:39 +0000
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