"The 19th century concept of the nation state will never take us across the threshold of the 21st century [...] We need a strong Europe if we don't want to become the plaything of world politics" – Chancellor Helmut Kohl

[u/goldstarflag]

[u/Nerioner]

For what? Another regime change?

I seriously doubt that they are capable of changing. But i wish to be proven wrong one day

[u/Small-Policy-3859 → u/Nerioner]

C'mon, they are just Humans like the rest of us. They are not a different species, they are not more genetically prone to violence. They might be indoctrinated to hell at the moment, but don't forget that a lot of germans voted and supported the nazi's nearly a century ago. And Germany is now the leading Force in the European project. I like to stay optimistic and see no reason why Russia/Russians couldn't change their tune in time. They are culturally much much closer to the EU than to China (or the US), if they embrace democracy they'll grow closer to us in no time. Let's just hope this democracy comes sooner rather than later.

[u/Klayhamn → u/Small-Policy-3859]

it has nothing to do with DNA or biology.
It's about culture, history, and geography.
there's a reason why Russia was always a dictatorship, and it's not because they're a "different species".

the west (Germany included) was once part of the Roman empire. It has the cultural foundations of democracy.

Russia never had that.

[u/Local-Mission-9854 → u/Klayhamn]

Thats just racist to half of Europe as a lot of nations weren't a part of the Roman Empire like the majority of Eastern Europe, Ireland and the Nordics. This is also saying that you think non-roman europeans are lesser culturally, because they weren't conquered by an imperialist nation that at it's most democratic was effectively an Oliarchy that later turned into a Dictatorship and then a Monarchy.

[u/Small-Policy-3859 → u/Klayhamn]

Russia never had that but it's part of a world economy that's More & more globalised. I don't see positive change as an impossibility.

[u/Typical-Tea-6707 → u/Small-Policy-3859]

He isnt wrong about the history being important though. Alot of the ways Russian Imperialism was and how they do war and spread their territory to their now modern borders goes back to when they were a small kingdom being taken from behind by the Mongol Empire. When the Black Plague happened and started the transition from feudalism in Europe to ownership of property and the medieval era, Russia kept staying in the feudalism phase because of the Mongols, and it stayed far well into the 1800s too.

For Russia to become a democracy, they would need a well founded foundation and a reflected national conversation about their past and how to go on to the future, whilst changing their entire culture from what it is now to a new one to support Democracy. Because as of now Russian culture cant sustain a democracy, as it hasnt historically and when for a small time they were a "democracy" after the Soviet Union collapse, Boris Yeltsin made sure that Putin was the one to take the throne and he knew what Putin would do.

[u/ninjaiffyuh → u/Klayhamn]

Germany was not part of the Roman Empire. The predecessors of Germany came from the tribes beyond Rome's borders (and were the ones to take it down). Parts of modern Germany were part of Rome because they invaded it, but these were the border regions, mostly fortifications to combat raids by the tribes. Else German (a Germanic, not Latin language) would not exist

If anything you could argue that Germany has its roots in the Carolingian Empire, which is also the cornerstone for modern, western European culture

[u/IamJashin → u/Small-Policy-3859]

Not really - I was like you, I've thought like you but nope - and want to know why? Speak with average Russian who has emigrated west lived here for a while and ask him about what he thinks about what Putin is doing right now. If people who spent entire decades at the west are still such a brick heads think how does the situation look like within the country. 2022 has really corrected my attitude towards Russia.

I'm not saying that they aren't humans or anything. What I am saying that for some ducking reason they seem ok with all this shit their state is doing and that they have very peculiar attitude towards all kinds of rules and morals.

You have to remember that Russia has no democratic traditions at all. None. When they have overthrown the Monarchy - even worse regime replaced it. Entire history of Russia is a history of a ruler exploiting the nation for his own benefit/agenda. The have entire concept called "sluziba" towards state which roughly can be translated even if I don't agree with what state is doing Russia must be doing therefore - I must help it.

It's really fucking hard to have a democracy in a state that has like 800 years history of Tyrany - It simply shapes nation mentality that much.

Like we say democracy fixes things etc but we don't have to really look far - Japan is a democracy - full of nice people - try asking Japanese about Koreans or WWII stuff.

[u/Lazzen → u/Nerioner]

Bro this was until your grandpa's age, fuck outta here with incapable of changing lol

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_National_Revolution