Excellent writing, adorned with detailed that only a novelist could craft!
This made me laugh; “Also, and to look on the positive side, getting killed by the Russians would finally grant me the centrist respectability I’ve always secretly craved.”
The Times: Ultra-right Blogger Finds Redemption in Ukraine Front Line Death
Ed West, a former Journalist who wrote for reputable (if inferior) publications including The Guardian, The Week and Nuts Magazine, before becoming an ultra-right blogger on the disinformation ridden internet platform Substack, has been killed on the frontlines of the Ukraine Conflict.
West merits note for choosing to go to Ukraine and criticise Russia, despite in the past having spread far-right conspiracy theories suggesting that prior to 1945 Britain was ethnically homogenous and judges are too lenient on criminals. In this he showed admirable integrity, for a blogger, and has achieved a partial redemption
Something that I get from this piece and see elsewhere is the real determination of the Ukrainians.
I have a great deal of distrust in western institutions and media, which at first led me to question whether the Ukrainians really care all that much and if their government wasn't just being propped up by the west. At the time. I was sceptical about the west's claims that intelligence showed Russia was planning to invade Ukraine, as were quite a few others, because western governments have a track record of lying. One reason they should probably do less of that.
But it's obviously clear now that the Ukrainians will fight and die for their independence, which does changes things. It's touching, tragic, inspiring and does engender a desire to support them in this.
It also changes the calculus for Russia, because as this piece notes even if Russia does manage to subordinate or annex Ukraine, a lot of Ukrainians are not going to passively accept that. And I'm sure some senior Russian officials see that too, even if Putin doesn't, and it may affect their own individual political calculations.
It seems quite likely that if Putin were to disappear somehow, there might be a push within the Russian government to end things quickly, even at a disadvantage.
That’s just foolish geographic determinism. Some of the pressures like the absence of natural barriers could also be attributed to Russia/Muscovy and it had its own unique geographical challenges.
Ukraine’s geopolitical encirclement was certainly a factor but far more damaging was the loss of national elite which got absorbed into the Commonwealth (Ukrainian nobility chose Polonization because it brought status, rights, and access to the Polish political nation; later, much of the Cossack starshyna chose Russification for ranks, estates, and privileges in the Russian Empire)
Without a ruling dynasty or aristocratic class of its own, there was no institutional nucleus for sovereign statehood. At the same time the population that preserved Ukrainian ethnocultural identity was overwhelmingly peasant and lacked the political resources for state-building.
History is ultimately about people making choices and facing consequences
Very nice article, it made me think of Graham Greene. It’s a tragic war that I suspect will end soon actually, with the western part going west and the eastern part going east - possibly divided by the Dnieper river.
Thanks! my sense from visiting was that young people into all forms of tech were working in areas of the tech sector, even if not in designing the rockets, which yes I imagine is not very woke anywhere.
Aside from the jokes. A very interesting, informative piece, with well chosen interviewees. And kudos for being brave enough to go! I probably wouldn't.
Excellent writing, adorned with detailed that only a novelist could craft!
This made me laugh; “Also, and to look on the positive side, getting killed by the Russians would finally grant me the centrist respectability I’ve always secretly craved.”
The Times: Ultra-right Blogger Finds Redemption in Ukraine Front Line Death
Ed West, a former Journalist who wrote for reputable (if inferior) publications including The Guardian, The Week and Nuts Magazine, before becoming an ultra-right blogger on the disinformation ridden internet platform Substack, has been killed on the frontlines of the Ukraine Conflict.
West merits note for choosing to go to Ukraine and criticise Russia, despite in the past having spread far-right conspiracy theories suggesting that prior to 1945 Britain was ethnically homogenous and judges are too lenient on criminals. In this he showed admirable integrity, for a blogger, and has achieved a partial redemption
The Guardian would be much harsher on you than that, Ed.
“Far right influencer who maintained nativist blog dies in Ukraine.”
😭
Fighting for Azov, probably.
Interesting report, but rather one sided.
Fair. I am very one sided on the subject
Tell us about the other side
No riposte yet, I note.
Yes I would agree with that assertion.
'Don't know your not free until you're not free' would likewise be a more accurate statement, applicable to cheerleaders for 37 genders.
Good!
Something that I get from this piece and see elsewhere is the real determination of the Ukrainians.
I have a great deal of distrust in western institutions and media, which at first led me to question whether the Ukrainians really care all that much and if their government wasn't just being propped up by the west. At the time. I was sceptical about the west's claims that intelligence showed Russia was planning to invade Ukraine, as were quite a few others, because western governments have a track record of lying. One reason they should probably do less of that.
But it's obviously clear now that the Ukrainians will fight and die for their independence, which does changes things. It's touching, tragic, inspiring and does engender a desire to support them in this.
It also changes the calculus for Russia, because as this piece notes even if Russia does manage to subordinate or annex Ukraine, a lot of Ukrainians are not going to passively accept that. And I'm sure some senior Russian officials see that too, even if Putin doesn't, and it may affect their own individual political calculations.
It seems quite likely that if Putin were to disappear somehow, there might be a push within the Russian government to end things quickly, even at a disadvantage.
Here's a great article exploring why in spite of its apparent advantages, Ukraine never became the site of a great power:
https://unchartedterritories.tomaspueyo.com/p/why-isnt-ukraine-a-global-superpower
That’s just foolish geographic determinism. Some of the pressures like the absence of natural barriers could also be attributed to Russia/Muscovy and it had its own unique geographical challenges.
Ukraine’s geopolitical encirclement was certainly a factor but far more damaging was the loss of national elite which got absorbed into the Commonwealth (Ukrainian nobility chose Polonization because it brought status, rights, and access to the Polish political nation; later, much of the Cossack starshyna chose Russification for ranks, estates, and privileges in the Russian Empire)
Without a ruling dynasty or aristocratic class of its own, there was no institutional nucleus for sovereign statehood. At the same time the population that preserved Ukrainian ethnocultural identity was overwhelmingly peasant and lacked the political resources for state-building.
History is ultimately about people making choices and facing consequences
Very nice article, it made me think of Graham Greene. It’s a tragic war that I suspect will end soon actually, with the western part going west and the eastern part going east - possibly divided by the Dnieper river.
In other news, I’ve got the same hat as you! What are the chances? An over-sized Sealskin black beanie, if I’m not very much mistaken. Sooooo warm 🙂
"This is why neoliberalism will win - because we love convenience more than they love death."
I try to be reassured by this notion, yet I think the Bard had the better of it:
'Why, I can spend and murder whiles I spend'.
Wonderful, Ed.
Thank you!
Excellent piece! I recently wrote about fintech in Ukraine that you may find interesting https://www.paymentsculture.com/p/resilience-and-innovation-ukraines
thanks! I will read
It’s excellent writing by any measure. Only quibble is weapons tech skews massively male and is not especially woke - until infiltrated!
Thanks! my sense from visiting was that young people into all forms of tech were working in areas of the tech sector, even if not in designing the rockets, which yes I imagine is not very woke anywhere.
Cheers
Aside from the jokes. A very interesting, informative piece, with well chosen interviewees. And kudos for being brave enough to go! I probably wouldn't.