Russian tanks in Kyiv

[timelets]

Long time ago, professor Searle explained to us that the German and the Japanese societies chose democracy and peace after the WWWII not because they suddenly realized the advantages of democracy and peace. Rather, he said, it happened because they were utterly defeated militarily and their economies were largely destroyed. Rebuilding an empire, like that happened in post-WWI Germany, was not an option. As the result, the people of Germany and Japan reaped enormous benefits of democracy and peace, restoring and exceeding their earlier standings in the world.

Given the current Russian aggression against the Ukrainian state, we need to make sure that a similar mental shift happens in the Russian society. It will take a while, though. I hope it won't take another WW; therefore, crippling economic sanctions would be a good start. It also helps that Putin is doing everything in his power to cripple his own country himself. Moreover, I don't think being friends with China is a good option for him either. Because who needs enemies if you have a cunning and powerful friend like China?

BTW, I don't know how to translate "недобитая [империя]" into English. Google offers "unfinished" but it doesn't sound right to me.

Comments

[tijd]

Winning WW2 required making a deal with the Devil (Stalin), who sacrificed millions of people and was rewarded with the world domination and a permanent annexation of parts of Germany and Japan.

Is the civilized world prepared to make a similar deal with China to win the current war? In the fight with evil, the choice is always to stay good and lose or to become partially evil and win.