MOSCOW (Realist English). Is a successful special operation in Ukraine possible without a special operation inside Russia? On what principles should the Z-ideology be built? What image of the future does Russia need? Alexander Shatilov, Candidate of Political Sciences, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Mass Communications of the Financial University under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Russian Federation, answered these and other questions in an interview with Realist Information Agency.
What hopes do you pin on Russia’s military operation in Ukraine?
Alexander Shatilov: I see a tragic need for the special military operation, since all attempts to negotiate with the Ukraine and its Western curators on peaceful coexistence have ended in vain. Moreover, in recent years, the West has begun to make an anti-Russia and Moscow’s adversary out of Ukraine.
Frankly speaking, the West crossed the red line, which forced Russia to perform a deblocking operation. If the Kremlin achieves its goals, and this is, first of all, Ukraine’s recognition of the Russian Crimea, as well as the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, then the threat of the West at Russia’s borders will disappear. Instead of a hostile one, a buffer neighboring state will appear.
Is the special operation in the Ukraine possible without a special operation inside of Russia?
Alexander Shatilov: A lot depends on disagreements within the elite, which has recently developed as a multi-component one. It was attended by both the patriotic part, and the “siloviki”, as well as representatives of the liberal camp. For a long time, such a multiplicity was tolerable and even was necessary, especially in the context of a rational partnership with the West in the 2000s. But our partners decided to test our strength and to try to surround us with a dense ring of hostile states. Right now, the question arises on how necessary it is to maintain the status quo in the elite and on its transformation.
Because in the conditions of wartime, such a multi-component state began to interfere with the political and socio-economic development of the country, as well as the implementation of geopolitical tasks. For this reason, certain personnel purges are over due, and they are being carried out, but there should be no drastic changes here. Most likely, individual officials who, for certain reasons, prevent Russia from realizing its national interests will be changed one by one.
Today, experts talk about the need to form the Z-ideology. On what principles should this ideology be built?
Alexander Shatilov: There is a need to form a national idea, because previously everyone understood it differently. Over the past 15 years, there have been discussions about what should form a national idea. If we are talking about the Z-ideology, then the first thing that should be in it is the principle of sovereignty, interethnic friendship and solidarity based on traditional values, instead of the ambiguous term “tolerance”. These are the main staples that will allow our country to withstand the conditions of mobilization and turbulent times.
Russia and the Ukraine have a similar socio-economic structure. Oligarchic capitalism prevails in both countries. The only difference between them is that domestic oligarchs have more money thanks to oil and gas. Do you agree with this statement?
Alexander Shatilov: I don’t quite agree with that. The Ukraine now resembles Russia of 1996-1999, when the oligarchic power reached its apogee and dictated its will to the Kremlin. Russia, with the arrival of Vladimir Putin, has gone the way of diluting the oligarchic factor; let us recall the first steps towards equidistancing of oligarchs.
Now, everything is the opposite. The government controls the oligarchs despite the fact that the latter lobby their interests. And in the Ukraine, the government is still helpless and does not have political subjectivity. Plus foreign partners, in particular the United States, are putting pressure on it.
People are at a loss against the backgdrop of the events in the Ukraine. They need an image of the future. What can be offered them today?
Alexander Shatilov: The image of the future is a very complex image. there is a total crisis in the world now, a stupor. No one can come up with some new and beautiful idea that calls forward. With us, main topics have now discredited themselves — liberalism, communism, nationalism, Nazism and others; there is an ideological vacuum in this situation. What will it be filled with? We will see, but we need to work on a new ideology that is flexible enough. Such work will be carried out in all countries of the world, including Russia.
Right now, it is difficult to talk about the image of the future, rather a tactful image is emerging. First of all, we are talking about winning the confrontation with the West on the territory of the Ukraine. As soon as victory is won, then it will be possible to talk about a strategic perspective.
