Morgan ,
Your original post spoke only of bully in such a way that it was THE factor for signing up with Russia. The links you provided , one or two mentions bullying but gives no further details .
As have you. Your position is akin to saying person A bullied me to sell my house to him rather than person B because they offered more money.
You dont even want to acknowledge what was offered by the two parties
Thats my point. Tips to recognise based on what ? i dont know would be an honest answer
Experience of history, may be, and exemples from other dictators.
Would you need i explain why Putin or Xi Jinping are totalitarian dictators?
Bullying, for instance :
That Ukraine has resisted Moscow’s overtures for deeper integration, while other former soviet republics, such as Armenia, have acquiesced and decided to join the Customs Union, which includes Belarus and Kazakhstan, has incensed Mr. Putin and caused him to ratchet up economic pressure on Russia’s former vassal. In mid-August, for instance, additional checks on all Ukrainian goods entering Russian territory were introduced, subjecting them to a more rigorous and costly verification process when crossing the border. Following this, Ukraine’s leading chocolate maker, Roshen, which is owned by Petro Poroshenko, a pro-EU business leader and one of Ukraine’s richest men, saw its products added to the Custom Union’s list of hazardous items on the grounds that its products posed a health risk. Additionally, the import of Ukrainian pipes made by another Ukrainian oligarch, Victor Pinchuck, was interrupted.
These trade disruptions are emblematic of Russia exerting its “soft power”, i.e. taking action designed to remind Ukraine’s political and economic elites the importance of staying in Russia’s good-graces and, ultimately, to inhibit Ukraine from signing the Association Agreement.
Public and private arm-twisting by Putin, including threats to Ukraine’s economy and Yanukovich’s political future, played a significant part.
Putin did not offer a free deal:
It is not clear what Yanukovich agreed to give Russia in return, but two sources close to him said he may have had to surrender some control over Ukraine’s gas pipeline network.
Other clauses stay secret.
I would not judge the fairness of the deal without having read the whole document.
Yes russia pressure to show what could be the consequences , but bullying ?? And to say this is the reason why Yanukovich changed his mind? I am mindful of the deplorable state of the ukraine economy in 2012 (1% GDP), reduced exports , a deadline to repay foreign debt at the time and the demands of the EU and IMF to restructure its economy to the benefit of finance capital put the economy in deep crisis. In fact the signing with the EU did nothing for ukraine in its negotiations with IMF as they demanded ukraine increase its gas prices by 40% for Ukrainians .
But the EU wanted Ukraine to choose between the EU and Russia, while not offering billions of euros or quick membership. And the deal was something like a thousand pages long. So, the government of Yanukovich wanted to wait a bit, negotiate more, consider all the nuances of the deal, etc. At the same time, Putin offered Ukraine 15 billion dollars and gave 3 billion immediately. That was a good stimulus to not rush into the deal. The EU should have just offered more money, but they chose to support Maidan instead, because that was cheaper, and the end result was better for them.
Experience in what history? What regimes did he study ? ???
You are trolling and evading the question: Is Putin a totalitarian dictator or not.
You cant stay on topic
Then what is your analysis of the government of Western Europe?
Who are these two persons shaking hands in this photo yesterday ?
Shaking hands doesn’t indicate anything.
Pure diversion … As you don’t want to recognize that Putin is a fascist, when you know he is one.
His name is Abu Mohammad Al-Jolani and is the leader of The Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham whose movement have well known Al Qaeda roots . For they had been operating under the watchful eyes of Turkish National intelligence organization in Idlib region for many years. In fact, their leader AKA Abu Mohammad Al-Jolani who has now taken back his birth name Ahamd al Sharaa had a 10 million dollars reward for his capture which until dec 2024 US authorities removed it. Not surprisingly the US and their European allies have in more recent weeks tried rehabilitating Al Sharaa’s notorious terror image. For they continue to believe that his benign comments lately in regards to the question of Israel and neighboring states in this critical juncture would make him once again a useful tool for advancing their Geo-strategic interests in the region. Of course, at least for now.
So democratic freedom loving Europe calls others fascists but makes friends and welcomes head chopping, baby killing, heart ripping jihadist terrorists.
Al Jolani will continue to be a head-chopper even if he puts on a tuxedo.
And i dont agree with your list of indicators especially when their basis cant be shown
OK, that’s your right.
Then, give me your definition of fascism, and explain to me why Putin is not a fascist dictator.
Capitalism has always treated fascism as a reserve weapon in its back pocket. In times of intense class struggle, with revolution on the cards, it is an instrument of last resort that the ruling class can deploy to physically destroy the organisations of the working class, eradicate their democratic rights, and force them into subjugation..
In his 1934 piece - wither france trotsky wrote “The historic function of fascism is to smash the working class, destroy its organisations, and stifle political liberties when the capitalists find themselves unable to govern and dominate with the help of democratic machinery” in his observations of francos spain, hitlers germany and mussolinis italy
In essence, it obliterates democratic working class organisations of all types, with union leaders banned and potentially murdered independent form of democratic organisation, repressed.
A materialistic marxist scientific analysis of the characteristics of fascism is summarised here
Are you working on the Putin part? Of the question.
greenhammerxxx, your definition is interesting and i can work in its frame.
Putin checks every case of fascism.
You would contest that saying that he is not a supporter of capitalism, but in fact he is.
He has been supporting the Russian oligarchy which has stolen the public properties when USSA has fallen, not forgetting to take its share. He only wants loyalty from them.
Thanks for your demonstration.
Show me the black and brown shirt thugs storming into workers trade unions, co-ops and their affiliation and breaking kneecaps. Show me how corporations control every aspect of democratic life in russia to the subversion of the russian worker right to organise. Strikes were banned in russia under yeltsin much to the applause of the democratic west . They are allowed now but with much restrictions as they are in every western nation who claims to be democracy loving good guys.
They don’t do it like that anymore. The US Constitution is not that different than Russia’s. They transitioned from communism by opening capitalism way up, making corruption legal. Trump is doing the same thing now, testing what people will tolerate and testing the courts.
First, you don’t contest that Putin and his system check every point of your definition, i act that
Second, these facts were not in your definition
Third, you mix two stages, as the facts you are referring to were acted before fascists calme to power and imposed their dictatorship.
And Putin does not hesitate to send to jail and kill opponents, even oligarchs.
Fourth, under Stalin, there were trade unions in Russia, controlled by the party. Stalinian system was nevertheless a totalitarian system.
In Putin Russia, trade unions are not free by are tightly controlled by the power.
Factice trade unions in Russia
How workers are treated in Russia
These sources are partly contradicting each other, but the global picture does not breathe freedom.
