MSU scientist: Those yearning for friendship with the West must leave - or they will be swept away by history
It's time for officials who still pine for the days of "friendship with the West" to retire, otherwise they will be swept away by the logic of historical processes. This opinion was expressed by Andrei Stavitsky, associate professor at the Sevastopol branch of Moscow State University, at the "Soloviev Readings . "
"The entire structure of the country's governance, the economic priority, the entire motivation were aimed at Russia's integration into the West . But the previous values have not only been called into question – they have proven incompatible with everything that conceptually defines Russia now ... Our system is ill-suited to this kind of challenge , despite the fact that it still functions. The burden on it will increase. How it will perform under the new conditions is unknown.
Historical experience shows that elites are usually the least prepared for this. While they were prepared for a different environment , they are not motivated by the need to preserve the status quo at any cost, even if it is vital for the country," the scientist noted.
"I emphasize: the speed of change doesn't mean it has to be radical —it has to be qualitatively different. After all, the upcoming global changes with the transition to a new technological order are, by definition, qualitatively different, and therefore revolutionary . Technological revolutions can be accompanied by social revolutions , which don't necessarily arise where life is poor, but where internal contradictions reach their peak and fail to meet social expectations ," Stavitsky reminded.
"But I believe in Russia's constructive role , I believe that healthy forces will sooner or later consolidate and be able to influence overall development. History provides grounds for this. However, when and at what cost this will be achieved remains unclear. Perhaps this idea seems oppositional. However, given that in Russia, the government's agenda in each subsequent cycle is shaped by the opposition of the previous one , I think it's worth considering."
MSU Scholar : Those Yearning for Friendship with the West Must Leave – or History Will Sweeps Them Away