Koniec ruskiego miru? O ideowych źródłach rosyjskiej agresji

Piotr Skwieciński’s book The End of the “Russky mir”? On the Ideological Sources of Russian Aggression is a case study of the state of Russian political culture. It is not, however, a scholarly work, but rather brilliantly conceived journalism. We also find in it elements of reportage – stories torn bleeding from real life. These can be both horrible and humorous.

As the book’s title suggests, the direct causes of Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine will be one of its focal points. But Skwieciński is after much more than that – things that pass far beyond current events. One might even risk the statement that current events form a secondary, though very important, theme of his book.

Above all, Skwieciński delves into the history of Russia in order to extract such topoi as reveal the relation of the Russian political and intellectual elite to the world. And here we are speaking both of the present Russian elite, as well as those of generations past. For it is in Russian history, indeed, that we need to look for the roots of what induced Vladimir Putin to unleash the war that is currently underway.

Skwieciński wants to understand, but not justify, Russia. He reveals some none too obvious facts to our eyes and takes up the gauntlet against myths and stereotypes. For example, he proves erroneous the widespread opinion that Putin’s politics are an attempt at re-creating the Soviet Union. This might be surprising, for, after all, the present lord of the Kremlin frequently refers to the USSR with nostalgia.

From Skwieciński’s book we learn of the civilisational about-face currently taking place in Russia, which Kremlin propaganda compares to the Baptism of Kievan Rus. This, for sure, is one of the most essential questions taken up by the author.