Nèdeem Elmahjoub's blog

Was Russia’s invasion of Ukraine motivated almost entirely by Vladimir Putin’s ideological fears and concerns for his regime’s preservation?

“ The key to understanding ‘what Putin really wants’ is not cherry-picking obscure phrases from his speeches and articles that fit observers’ preconceived biases, but rather conducting a systematic analysis of the structurally determined material interests, political organisation, and ideological legitimation of the social class he represents.” Related Political capitalism of the US

So what if Putin likes Dostoyevsky? Related “ Lithuania - together with Latvia, Estonia and Poland - banned all Russian tourists , arguing they should not be enjoying democracy and freedom in Europe while their government attacks those very values in Ukraine.”

What comes next? Related News we don’t want to hear (full article requires subscription)

When it comes to the micro and macro the analysis in the article is accurate. However, when it comes to ‘the underlying cause’— ‘neoliberalisation’—it is a mainstream argument. The working of capital and global capital, profitability and capital accumulation—whether by the imperialist states or by Qatar and UAE, for instance—is the underling cause(s). The impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the region

Military spending after the end of history

“You either have to be 100 percent on one side or on the other side. Any variation becomes suspect and raises questions about your loyalty and your motivations.” A self-fulfilling prophecy

“These people are not people we are used to… these people are Europeans.”  – Kiril Petkov, Bulgarian Prime Minister,  Associated Press , March 1, 2022

Another example of the limits of political science . A fragmented approach that does not help in unpacking power struggles, political economic interests and the class dynamic inside countries. Related Whether a change in Russia’s political order is a possible outcome is to be seen, but an analysis should always go beyond politics. An invasion of Ukraine could destabilise Russia’s political order