Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2001 14:21:58 +0400 From: Antti Rautiainen <antti.rautiainen-AT-kolumbus.fi> Subject: AUT: politics of postmodern 23rd of may there was a meeting against import of the nuclear waste to Russia in Moscow, around 100 people came (which is a lot here). Curious thing in the demo was that along ecologists who organised the meeting about all "ideas" which can be by doing some violence described as "modern" were present - anarchists, stalinists and neo-liberal Yabloko party, with numbers of few dozen at most. Even few fascists came up, and liberals were jerk enough to let them to have a speech! Everyone was just standing in the line, insulting each other. Anarchists were insulting more, and stalinists less than the rest since stalinists are 60+ and suffer from dementia, alzheimer etc. So any political theory whatsoever of last 2 centuries is in the opposition in Russia. Those in power are only interested about material benefits for themselves. A post-modern political condition. In the contrary, "Molodezh za prezident" ("Youth for the President"), initiated by ruling circles, is an example of a post-modern and growing movement. In the beginning there anarchists were writing worrying articles about "Putin Jugend" but now I think there is not a lot reason to be worried. Few days ago a friend saw a pack of drunken youth with these t-shirts of huge Putin face (distributed for free to participators of "Putin Jugend") making a noise in metro and joking between each other that "if you do not behave, I will call Vladimir Vladimirovich" (Putin). Youth getting involved does not care a shit about any politics, quite the contrary - there was a talk for years that "now we have democracy, everyone may participate" and so on, which gave people absolutely nothing. Now youth goes to "Youth for the President" to absolutely fuck with all the politics, they get free t-shirts and other benefits, and 100 roubles for each 5 new members they recruite. So it works like a kind of a pyramid (ponzi) scheme. Such a corruption is for sure well spread in all the circles closer to real politics than anarchist. For example in a wide anti-war coalition a year ago (mostly anarchists and glasnost-generation liberals, trots boycotted but did not organised an alternative) anarchists were only ones who agreed to distribute stickers to announce about coming up actions unpaid. Of course postmodern condition of Russian politics has also good sides, otherwise some fascists (left- or right wing) could have been able to seize the power years ago. I am quite sure phenomena of today's Russian politics will come around to West as well in the future. Antti R. --- from list aut-op-sy-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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