A Russian person could not visit New York, Chicago and Los Angeles and then say they visited The United States and have an understanding of Americans. They might think they understand, but any American would giggle at the notion.
Conversely, the same is true in Russia. You cannot visit Moscow, St Petersburg and Kazan and think you have an understanding of Russians. However, if you give yourself time, join in the daily tasks and challenges of ordinary Russians, you can easily discover some of the deeper stuff that really puts context on life in the Russian Federation.
Perhaps what follows is a different perspective.
It took a while, but I finally figured out what this phrase “the fatherland” is all about.
Let me start by sharing another phrase that almost every American will find familiar, yet virtually every Russian asked has no reference to comprehend: “you work for us.”
When talking to a federal, state or local government official in the United States and saying, “you work for us,” everyone listening would completely understand your sentiment. However, in Russia that phrase is akin to asking a Martian for a canoe. This is the way to understand “the fatherland.”
Within Russia the social compact is organized around the premise (key word “premise“), that government is the father figure within a family – and all of the citizens are children. The government knows best. The state engages in all facets, systems and structures as if they are the omnipotent father who cares about the children.
The people of Russia generally accept this system. Generations and generations of compliant, well behaved, very structured and regimented ideology still permeates. The muscle memory is deepest in the psychological muscles that run through generations.
Oddly, this social compact is understood, but only understood insofar as the Russian people do not have any other reference point, or alternative system that would enable them to see the deficit in the oppressive system that surrounds them.
The average Russian knows the “West” is different but doesn’t really know why the social system they see outside their window seemingly operates with well-organized randomness. What is this efficiency within unbridled capitalism you speak of, and why would Americans be willing to give it up?
Karelia Russia, early spring ’24
♦ As stated previously, the level of social compliance within the fatherland compact is stunning. Some observers might brush off extreme lawfulness as a remnant of strict authoritarianism – decades of hardcore soviet influence. From that perspective, yes being an invisible “grey man” is safe; drawing attention to yourself can only bring the glare of Father. It is safer to be a generic sardine in a school of sardines.
Live within that system long enough, and it just becomes the natural way it is. It doesn’t matter what the uniform rule is, generally Russians act with extreme compliance.
Standing in line, waiting for the light at a crosswalk, standing on the right side of the escalator, remaining stoic, “cultured” and “not vulgar” in a subway or public venue, putting your trash in an often-changed public receptacle, appropriate (quiet) use of the cell phone, the odd lack of talking in just about any venue, all the way to accepting ridiculous outcomes as a matter of engagement with the fatherland bureaucracy.
The customs and norms circle around ordinary compliance and social acceptances, learned behaviors over time, and so they do. Note, in part this behavior pattern makes it very easy to spot a non-Russian. [That is also one of the reasons why I was careful about taking ordinary photographs, especially considering there are literally no tourists.]
From the 30,000 ft level, generally speaking, somewhere above 85% of the Russian population are compliant children, very well behaved with low expectations of anything in life that is not ordinary. That larger part of Russia accepts their malaise as just “life,” and they move along. The other 15% are part of the social strata (government worker or connected to a higher status), that affords them additional benefits.
St Petersburg, Russia – Spring ’24
Yes, there are definitely two castes or classes within the population, and this is a self-fulfilling prophecy, something the intellectual left in the United States will always deny. Totalitarianism is on the far-left side of the political continuum. Within that leftist system, a process the USA is working toward, there are ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ – or what is more familiarly called “elites.”
Have you ever visited Disney or a theme park in the USA where you can purchase a higher priced ticket to go into a “fast lane” at each attraction? The average price visitor stands in one long line, those who pay a much higher price get to skip to a much shorter line. In Russia, that’s the analogy for the general population engaging in everything; literally everything in their life from shopping to where they live, the better system experience is based on wealth & status.
♦ There is no part of this social system that an average American would enjoy in the long-term. Do not romanticize Russia. Edward Snowden gave up his best life when he made his hard choices.
Put simply, ordinary life as an ordinary Russian is just not easy. The concept of a social system structured around liberty and self-determination is unknown. Russians are not “free” people, not even close.
It is not uncommon to see police on foot, regular beat cops, on crowded streets stopping people and asking for “their papers.” I am told the people being stopped are clearly not native Russians; but honestly, I watched this take place several times, and they all look Russian to me.
As I walked in the crowd with my friends, I asked them, “Do I look Russian”, because I was not being asked for my papers.
The response was generally that I look “white”, and the people being stopped by the police were not white. However, again I repeat, everyone being stopped looked like a white Russian to me, so what do I know.
There were also a few seemingly random road checkpoints where you are stopped by police and asked for your papers when driving, or a passenger. This always made me nervous (and my friends, although they were embarrassed to admit it), and with my passport I was always questioned and checked closely (but never detained – except as previously noted in the airport).
On the overall social oppression aspect, yes there are signs the Russian government is trying to change, to figure out a middle ground. However, the default position of the social mechanism is set to strict control, oppressive govt and authoritarianism.
Step out of the sardine line, and you will end up regretting it – big time. Ordinary Russians do not want to step out of line.
The problem for the Russian government is the generational compliance system does not create forward-thinking, independent thinking or entrepreneurship at the scale needed (Western scale) to rapidly advance modern society or keep up with technological changes and advancements. The DNA of Russia is static, lacking innovation, and built on this system of compliance.
On one hand, too many grey people, not enough independent thinkers…. that appears to be part of the problem in Russia. Hence, the government has all kinds of financial and economic incentives for innovative Western tech people and businesses to emigrate. However, on the other hand the government likes the domineering social compliance aspect, so they face recruitment problems.
Socially, the extreme compliance creates unity, cohesion and lawfulness. However, that same permeating mindset chokes out innovation and independent critical thinking. The lack of home-grown innovation, meaning the people who actually think independently, means the industrial and tech business sectors must steal their ideas from other places. It is not accidentally the same in China. I think this is also why Russian hacking is so advanced.
The current/modern Russian government seems to hate the social wokeism stuff, within the “West,” more than they like innovation in a free-thinking capitalist society. As a consequence, Dear Father is not willing to allow his apples to fall away from the tree.
♦ The Western financial sanction regime against Russia has driven the Russian economy into a very close relationship with China, South Korea and larger Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN). The new automobiles in Russia are almost all Kia, Hyundai and then Chinese models. The Russians notably do not have many EVs; they are mostly standard internal combustion engines. There are some newer USA and EU import vehicles, but those carry the cost of the 3rd party brokers (super high prices afforded only by the elites).
The odd thing about the sanction regime is the invisibility of it, unless you are looking deeply. Sure, many western retail companies were forced to leave by Western political demand, but their products are still mostly available. I cannot visibly see any segment of the Russian economy where the sanctions are having a strong impact. Quite the opposite is true, and all outward appearances of the Russian economy look strong.
Again, in a general sense, because Russia lacks innovative capitalism, their infrastructure innovation is archaic and outdated. This does not mean the old infrastructure is necessarily broken or doesn’t work; it only means it is old and very odd to see. Russia spends a lot of time cleaning and maintaining its infrastructure, but large sections of housing developments and apartments are very old and look well past their use-by dates.
Analog is still everywhere; digital systems have yet to become mainstream. If you step outside the center-city tourist perspective, you enter the 1970’s or 1980’s system in the suburbs dominated by the sardine cans where people live. As a person who was born/raised like Huck Finn in Florida on the beaches, islands and backwater bayous, the stacked-up rows and rows of sardine can apartments is seriously wild and simultaneously “yikes.”
The sardine Russians enjoy their parks, and to be fair they have some really nice spring and summer parks to enjoy, provided and maintained by Dear Father. On nice weather days, the benches are full of people quietly talking to one another, enjoying the fellowship outdoors and generally being well cultured and exceptionally civil.
Random park in center city, St Petersburg, Russia
The well-mannered expectations of social rules, within the suburban and city park system, were explained to me, and I did not see a single reference of non-compliance or crude behavior anywhere – not even once. NOT ONCE.
Truthfully, it’s really weird how quiet and stoic the Russian people are when they are enjoying their recreation time. It’s like something out of a 1950’s pod-people movie, and after a while I found it to be very disconcerting, almost bordering on annoying for some reason.
— TheLastRefuge (@TheLastRefuge2) May 21, 2024
I woke up early and hiked up to that specific and beautiful hilltop in Kareila, Russia, just so I could record that train video. No one else was on the mountain. It was a cold and beautiful morning.
♦ Food and Diets – Russian people eat well, and generally you would say they eat healthy fresh food. Because he was apparently concerned about it at some point, Dear Father banned Canola oil in Russia as a food additive. Fresh foods are what the average American would consider “organic foods.” For those of you who grow in your own gardens, you understand what the food markets are like in Russia.
This is not to say Russians are “healthy,” because overall they might not be. Smoking cigarettes and heavy alcohol drinking are very visible, and the difference in appearance between a 20-year-old and a 40-year-old is striking; perhaps that’s why.
Good quality food is cheap in Russia. Everything you see on the counter in this picture (left) was purchased for less than $70. I transposed the prices that I would pay at my local grocery store in the USA, and I came up with around $150-$175.
Processed food prices in Russia (crackers, chips, candies, cereals) generally are about half of what you would pay in the U.S. However, on the fresh foods side (produce, fish, meats, dairy), the Russian prices are a fraction of the U.S.A costs.
[10 eggs for $0.50, bread $1, bananas $0.05/lb, salmon $2.00, head lettuce $0.50, berries less than $1, apples $0.45/lb, steak $2/lb, ground chuck $1.50/lb, etc]
A 30-mile cab ride is around $5 to $8, and gasoline costs less than $2/gal.
A typical “nice” restaurant meal for 2 people is around $15.00, and you can easily grab a burger and fries for $3/$4 at any fast-food place. The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment (city or suburb) is around $300/mo. The average income of a middle class (blue collar) worker is around $1,000/month.
Those grab-n-go electric scooters and electric bicycles are well used in the Russian cities and cost around $1 for an hour (kinda cool, and yeah I used them).
Keep in mind, during the soviet era religion was essentially forbidden. As a consequence, the Christian calendar within economic life (something you don’t think about in the USA) was erased.
In the USA the typical work week, Monday to Friday 9-5 weekends off, was an outcome of Christianity in the economy. In Russia you can get a dental appointment at 8:00pm on Sunday, or a haircut at any random time of day. All of the private sector businesses operate based on paying customer needs, not the social economic history of church attendance or worship schedules.
You can open a bank account in Russia using a passport, you do not need to live in Russia to open a bank account. Almost everything in “modern Russia” is done through your phone number and apps. On the downside, I have no doubt Dear Father monitors all of the connected activity on the phone number.
FYI, there are no sanctions on telecommunications, and USA issued cell carriers operate reciprocity systems in Russia.
Instagram, Facebook, Rumble and all pornography sites are blocked on Russian internet, but people use VPN’s. However, before you think it’s big government remember, the number of sites blocked by Russia is less than the number of Russian web sites and domain IDs blocked by the USA govt.
If your Internet Service Provider (ISP) carries a Russian identifier, about half the USA websites will block it, including President Trump’s Truth Social platform. This happens in cell phone networks and targeted apps also. I find this to be very troublesome, because communication is critical to avoiding conflict. The “West” and Russia are building walls around their internet protocols making it harder for Americans and Russians to talk to each other. I do not think this is good.
♦ Healthcare – Russian healthcare is very cost efficient, and the system of healthcare itself is really cool. This is one element where you could say Russian outcomes easily exceed the USA. Healthcare for the average Russian is free; essentially, socialized medicine paid via taxes. However, yes there is a private sector healthcare system available for those who want to pay for extra stuff.
Dental is a good example to give you an idea of costs. You can get braces in Russia for less than $1,000 (generally $500). Standard dentists visit for cleaning around $20. That cost ratio carries throughout the general healthcare system that is remarkably modern, although if you need a specialized test like a CAT scan ($75), PET scan ($200) or MRI ($100/$150) you need an appointment at a govt institution (although, super-efficient timelines there too).
Within private sector healthcare, I’m told medical tourism used to be a big thing with people traveling to Russia for low-cost high-quality healthcare. I can see why. I went on several visits to healthcare providers, and the in/out efficiency within both the govt and private sector was impressive. You can also purchase just about all prescription medications (except narcotics classed meds) without a prescription at pharmacies (that are seemingly everywhere like convenience stores).
♦ The Russian Federation, at least through the prism of life as an ordinary Russian (generally middle class/worker class), is not really close to the portrayal that we see about it through Western media.
Russia is a beautiful country; it is massive and filled with natural resources. From the landscape beauty and natural resource perspective, it is similar to the United States in many ways, but the USA is better. Culturally, there is a big difference between the USA and Russia, some of the differences may be considered good, some of them not good depending on what point exactly we were discussing.
I can see how a very specific type of rugged individualist person may enjoy living in Russia more than the USA. In a place where you are disconnected from the modern world and far away from the urban city centers; you can do just about anything you want in Russia – yes, even beyond what is possible in the United States. However, on the aggregate, the ordinary life of the average MAGA American is far superior in quality than the ordinary life of the average Russian.
The opportunities to improve your independent life in the USA are present and within reach. Those same opportunities are not easily found as an independent person in Russia.
When the innovative DNA is triggered in a Russian person, they are inherently compelled by disposition and expressive need to leave the federation. That dynamic is the irony you will find buried deep under the surface, and for very obvious reasons it is the one dynamic the Russian government will not discuss.
If you were to ask me what is the “one thing” I think that will culturally change Russia, you just read what I think it will be in that prior paragraph.
Feel free to use this discussion thread as an ‘Ask Me Anything’ about my time visiting Russia, and I will try to answer as best possible.
Love to all….
Thank you for the excellent summary. I’ve been visiting this site for years and it’s been a great resource in the face of our own national decline. I’ve enjoyed reading your own shift in viewpoint on Russia and mine has paralleled that over time.
I can say my experience with Russians has been similar. I’ve been to Moldova and Transnistria and have observed a similar sense of submissiveness among the Russians there. In contrast, I’ve seen the high testosterone drunkenness while studying in Prague — a dorm hallway was full of shattered glass from a Vodka bottle, so we had to make sure we wore shoes if we went through that particular hallway!
Unlike my own “fatherland” here in the states, I always felt safe anywhere I went in Transnistria (which is under Russian control). People were calm and orderly and overall there was a quiet air of peace, which we westerners might find unnerving, but I often wonder if that is an aspect of life that disappeared long ago here in the states when Christianity began to dissipate over time? I often observed a quiet orderliness in my grandparents (WWII) and great-grandfather (born 1898) growing up and it is a stark contrast to the boisterousness/loudness of the successive generations (maybe rock and roll and pop culture had a part in this as the Boomer generation is probably the first media-heavy generation on the scene and it has only increased in my own generation and that of my children).
Increasingly, I find outings out here in America are often met with a “what-if” in the back of my mind. I make a point to notice where all the exits are in a building and run through a what-if scenario of places to go for cover. You never know where an FBI patsy or CIA hired gun is going to be — but even beyond that, how many a poor-dieted, over medicated, non-religious and mentally disturbed American person is ready to snap out there?
On the point of Russia, I do wonder how much the Orthodox Christian ethos has informed their worldview and the general disposition of the people? Russia has been deeply Orthodox since far before America was ever an idea, and is often seen as a third Rome (beyond Constantinople after its fall). Some Orthodox Christian monks have prophesied that Russia will be the lone nation to stand against the Antichrist world order and will be an Ark for Christians. They see that playing out very much today as Russia stands against the “globohomo” empire and its rainbow flag.
Here in America, we are deeply protestant, a branch of Christianity that split from a previous split (between Orthodox Christianity and Catholicism in 1054 AD). Protestant Christianity is highly innovative and broad in its interpretation of the Bible, and is generally anti-traditional. We see this today with all of the various denominations that are present here in America, and even more so, the innovative aspect of Protestant Christianity has led to denominations fully embracing recent innovations in marriage — such as same-sex unions, female pastors and etc.
Innovativeness is essentially in our DNA as Americans. But presently undergoing a conversion to Orthodox Christianity out of Protestantism, I have begun to question many of my own philosophical underpinnings. I love America and the freedom it espouses and the quality of life it has created. I have loved learning about our history and much of that study and reading about it is what lead me to hold fast to my traditional conservative upbringing. But what does innovation amount to if the American soul is crushed under the slavery of hedonism as a result? Of course a certain quality of physical life is found in the abundance of material possessions, but what about the quality of the soul? Is all of this worth it if the majority of the people find themselves hearing Christ utter that fearful phrase: “Depart from me, I never knew you,” as they enter the eternal realm?
Orthodox Christianity is heavily sacrificial in its outlook. Its calendar is built around fasting and restraining oneself from the pleasures of this world. It is often said that if a person is struggling with an area of sin in their life, that fasting is a good remedy to refocus and reorient the soul away from the passions. Submission to a father/priest is a strong component as well, with a deep understanding that they are a shepherd and responsible to guiding you on the right path, regardless of what the material effects are. Orthodox Christians will often proclaim that no one is a greater sinner than they are, there is a heavy sense of humility ingrained. The more I become familiar with Orthodox Christianity, the more I see this in the Russian people. Perhaps that is why no one tries to stand out?
If Russia is becoming more Christian across its population, doesn’t it follow that eventually more of the policy makers will be so? As a result, wouldn’t the outlook of those in power shift toward being more Christ-like across the board? I can forgive Russia for many of its shortcomings presently, they are coming out of the grip of a brutal atheistic regime — some of those old mindsets will disappear with the passing of the generations.
Contrast that with America in the present, we have all this material wealth — literally everything at our fingertips — and yet why is our leadership so soulless? Why is civility seemingly gone? Why is the American Dream turning into a nightmare? Could it be that we’ve innovated ourselves away from God and placed ourselves in a material prison? John Adams always said that this country and its Constitution was for a moral people, it makes sense to why we see it quickly transforming into something else.
An interesting read, thank you.
Curious, though, as to why you make no mention of the fervent patriotism due to the Great War? Losing 20 million of your fellow citizens has left a lasting impression on the national psyche.
“All of the private sector businesses operate based on paying customer needs…”
To me this sounds very promising for a future thriving capitalist society- once wokeism is gone.
Awesome to read Sundance’s posts on current observations. St. Petersburg and central Moscow are the only cities anywhere in the world I would again visit, as cities anywhere I avoid. Traveling throughout Russia by trains and private vehicles, with occasional jet rides to cover ground is fascinating. Having time to visit with random locals of the multitude of ethnicities which form “Russians” met on long train trips is instructive. Renting local apartments, staying at people’s homes or in Russian hotels (avoid western/foreign hotels) is best way to enjoy and learn this fascinating country. It’s really an alternate world/universe almost. So many options, taking a river cruise on the Volga between Volgograd and Astrakhan. Russians love to dance, sing and are great to hang out with. Very polite and considerate, dry humor and intelligent/educated. Never felt threatened or concerned for street crime. As a man you can enjoy smoking anywhere without the liberal Karen’s being annoying. Do not ever have an attitude towards the “mientbi” cops. It’s worth the effort to learn to read and write Russian ahead of individual travel. Otherwise you’ll have no clue on what your experiencing. May as well do a canned tour or stay home.
Interesting. And the father/child relationship used to be both ways. In my Russian history classes, I remember reading about one tsar (probably Nicholas) agonizing about how to best care for his “children”. I had not realized the same attitude would carry over to the Soviet and post-Soviet government. But it explains some odd (from my perspective) attitudes toward Stalin, thinking of the attitude of children toward an abusive father; you could be aware of the abuse but still not feel you can say anything against your father because after all he is your father – and that seemed to be the thought about Stalin.
I also noted this ‘father/child’ attitude. A biography of Catherine the Great indicated she had much the same approach. I’ve often considered that in America, we are not accustomed to a being led by royalty or dictators or popes or…fill in the blank. The fierce independence on display as people risked everything to settle all across the land is in our DNA*. So when I come across the “why can’t we be more like Europeans” attitude I think two things: what I just said about what we are accustomed to; and the question “why are you lumping all Europeans into one basket?”.
*seems to me some of us are rediscovering this bit of our DNA in this time of Great Awakening
Although I have always been fascinated by Russua, I would never want to live or even visit there.
This was quite an interesting take to compare to my American friend’s take on Russia. He and his family elected to move there.
Probably individual preferences play a major role in perceptions, but he and his family have found their new home to be comfortable, secure, and affordable. His reasons for moving there were in large part driven by his desire to have his family in a safe place, to have a place where his children could receive a good education without woke indoctrination, a predominantly Christian country, and a people proud proud of their history and nationalism . He tells me they have been welcomed and accepted. His wife and children can go to any park and hang out without worries. Russian people dote on his children.
Again, perhaps what SD describes is what my friend was looking for. He felt it was hard to leave the US but he feels he made a very good decision for his family.
Appreciate you taking time to share your reflections.
You learned all that in one week????
3 months
Sundance, the teeny bit I understand about Russia’s history is that under various monarchs, there was an effort to be included in the European world. It’s also my understanding that the current leader had attempted this as well, until finally he/they felt “tricked one too many times” (my paraphrase). It’s such an interesting country straddling Europe and Asia. I also just heard this morning on The Duran that Russia and China have experienced just one period of time when cooperation and camaraderie were not present, and that was during the Soviet era.
Can you describe what you observed and/or felt regarding this dynamic in the population, how they think of their own country as either Asian or European? Or if there is even any consideration of this question?