Showing posts with label #Society. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Society. Show all posts

Friday, 18 October 2024

WHAT IS SO BAD ABOUT RUSSIAN CULTURE

18 October 2024

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2024/10/18/germany-must-shed-its-reputation-as-europes-soft-underbelly/


Since this article talks about russian and german culture, it's worth noting that they are similar in many ways that might surprise us.

We hear nothing but negative bitter crit of all things russian these days, but it is worth considering whether russia could play a useful and positive role 

a) counter balancing the very negative influence of america on us europeans and more generally, could russia save us from the decline of the west? and 

b) whether conservative-minded readers of this blog might not find we have rather more in common with russian culture than we would like to admit...Worth thinking about? Ok, read on Horatio...


If you offer russian people the choice between their existing culture and a liberal-democratic culture as largely found across Europe, you can be sure you would immediately be shown the door. They had a bellyfull of that in the 1990s.

Instead, Russia offers a communal, nationalist ethos - a cultural and societal mindset that emphasises the collective identity and unity of a nation, often placing the interests and values of the group or community above those of the individual.

Russia's alternative cultural model is resistant to neoliberalism, much like Germany's in some respects. Remember that neoliberalism is not the same as liberalism, neoliberalism is what has given us all these forever wars, i believe Germany is no longer a threat in that respect..

It may surprise you to learn that Russia is a democratic society. You can see that from the polls, which give Putin a consistent near-80% popularity. But while it is democratic (hooraaaay), it is also to some extent authoritarian (boooooh), and you can tell this by the poor treatment of minorities and from the composition of the governing class, which tends to be drawn from the oligarchs (but don't think that democracy in europe is any better! certainly not in the EU).

From what I can work out, russia offers a traditional culture, a nationalist spirit, a diverse though well integrated society (ethnically and religiously, russians are majority orthodox Christian from the days of bizantium, but has a large Muslim population in the caucases,
from the days I think of the ottomans), patriarchal by family type, meaning a somewhat rude authoritarian political culture, but is at the same time a popular democracy. 

It is alleged to share with Germany, however, a certain violent family type, supposedly originating in "droit de cuissage", but from examining the historical record, this looks like a myth. Widespread violence in the family does lead to extremes in political culture, we know about that and which I cannot name, but let's just say it is expressed in n and c.

I don't see much wrong with a nationalist, conservative, traditional and religious culture, hopefully not too exaggerated, though I would prefer a liberal democracy that is real and not just the marketing propaganda of an elite class; and I can see a big boon in having a counter-weight to american influence in europe and a brake on our further decline into poverty and decadence.

Monday, 14 October 2024

THE SURVIVORS' CLUB

14 October 2024

I'm here at my local café with friends and it's like a real survivors club. The atmosphere is intense, try to imagine - everyone's telling their stories.

Like trying to navigate the Main Street in a flat bottom boat when you've got doors and toilets seats and furniture sailing down and hitting you.

The water was five meters above river level. A metre in the street. It forced in all the shop fronts and demolished walls.

The power and water has only just come back on. The pumps weren't working, so a metre of water came into your house and turned your tables and chairs and fridges upside down, saturated your mattresses, your bedding, what would you do? 

So everyone's exhausted from cleaning up and especially dealing with the trauma of the last two weeks, it's been very emotional for some. 

Certain have worked nonstop, leading relief efforts, setting the example; others are grateful to have someone to figure out the next steps.

I was very lucky. The property manager organised the resistance and the cleanup fterwards. The staff have been magnificent and the residents who stayed made a close community.

I was lucky to escape the worst by going to my hotel in the mountains, but now we’re back and all sticking together to get through this. 

Hope nothing like this ever hits you!

Post script


Why it's not a good idea to walk home in a flooded street on the pavement....it's better to walk in the middle of the road.


Sunday, 25 August 2024

HOW FAMILY STRUCTURE INFLUENCES THE VALUES AND ORGANISATION OF A SOCIETY

25 August 2024

How different family structures can produce different ways of organising society.

1. Overview of Family Structures and Their Influence

- Family Structures and Society:  
Family structures are fundamental. They shape values, political systems, and social organisation. Through a process of trial and error, people will develop and repeat solutions to problems they face and from this repeat behaviour come values and rituals.
Even as societies develop, these structures continue to impact political behaviour and attitudes toward authority and individualism.

- Regional Comparisons:  
By examining different family structures across regions, we can understand why certain political systems thrive in some societies but not in others.  
This perspective helps us grasp global power dynamics and the cultural factors that influence governance and social organisation.

2. Understanding Family Structures and Political Systems

- Definition of Family Structure:  
A family structure refers to the patterns of authority, inheritance rules, and relationships among family members.

- Impact on Society:  
Different family structures lead to different values, political organisations, and ideologies (belief systems).  
These varied beliefs and values result in different societal goals, organisational methods, policies, and actions.

3. Examples of Family Structures and Their Consequences

- Absolute Nuclear Family:  
Common in Northwestern Europe.
This structure is highly autonomous, with minimal emphasis on extended family ties.  
It fosters individualism, liberal democracy, and egalitarian values.
The United Kingdom is a good example of the Absolute Nuclear Family organisation.