[–] ponchoman275 0 points 8 points 8 points (+8|-0) ago (edited ago)
Czech here. Russian influence or outright control has been a disaster for most Eastern European countries. I do feel a blood tie to other Slavs but not so much to Russians, because they have not behaved like a good brother should. A lot of panslavists in the 19th century gave up on their ideas after actually visiting Russia. My country got invaded once, but luckily we are located quite far away so it most likely won't happen again, at least not in the next few decades. I would be constantly on alert if I lived in Estonia. Russia forced their authoritarian systems of government on many Eastern European countries, killed tons of people and pushed us into underdevelopment. Czechs and Hungarians know that last sad feeling the most. What the Russians (over many centuries) did in other places like the Baltics is even worse.
My country is western oriented and the backwards authoritarian kleptocracy that is Russia has absolutely nothing to give me. Ultimately I would want better relationships between all countries, but if we don't keep Russia in check and they grow too strong they could try to dominate this region again. Both the Islamists and Russians are the two greatest threats Europe as a whole faces. If Russia makes a commitment to change and abandon their militaristic foreign policy, improve the human rights situation and stop trying to influence Eastern European politics then I guess we can be friends. The rules of geopolitics however make this situation very unlikely.
[–] [deleted] ago
[–] ponchoman275 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Listen, things are fucked with the whole refugee crisis, Islamism and multiculturalism as a whole in the west. Some western countries have also taken the mandated political correctness to a whole other level. We Czechs have found a middle ground in the sense that we don't have those problems here. But Western Europe is still the place with the highest quality of life, most functional democratic systems and a great economy. When I say we are western oriented, to me it means we respect and support human rights, have a market economy with social characteristics and are part of the western power structure (EU, NATO). I'm also very strongly convinced the EU is a net positive for my country. Look at all the countries that are in Russia's sphere of influence. They are usually the most undemocratic, poor, unstable countries with a very poor human rights situation. Western Europe (with a few exceptions) is still the most free area in the world. Since we don't have laws suppresing opposition to refugees I guess you could argue countries like Czechia are becoming the most free in the world. As for the middle ground think I think we have found it in the Visegrád Group (Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland), which is pretty much the main opposition to refugees in the EU. It's still mainly a PR thing though, we need to take integration there further.
As neither Czech, nor Russian, how it looks your situation to me:
You were ruled by the Austrian empire (i.e. by foreigners) for some 300 years, since losing the battle of White Mountain. You got your country in 1918 and since then you were attacked by Poles, Germans and then the entire Warsaw pact (minus Romania) headed by Soviet Union. Poles still have territorial claims, your PM just signed an agreement with Germany that basically makes you a subordinated state (free movement of armed German police on Czech territory, just like in Protectorate), your secretary of culture is openly pro-Sudeten and anti-Benes decrees.
And yet you are afraid of Russians due to actions of the USSR in 1968, at the time ruled by an Ukrainian. You consider your biggest pals Germans, who wanted to exterminate you, right after Jews and Gypsies, just 30 years earlier.
Well, I'm just wondering. In my opinion, Eastern Europe should get rid of the existing prejudices, start looking after their own interest, without being subservient to either UKUSA, EU, Russia or China. Stand on its own, like adults do.
[–] ponchoman275 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Sorry but your argument seems to me like quite a strawman. We need to be careful of German dominance too, unfortunately they essentially own huge parts of the economy. We need to take steps to ensure we're not a protectorate. But the thing is they have commited to change and now are a democratic country with a functioning economy and a respect for human rights. Russia has not changed and is still an autocratic shithole that has nothing to give us, except for natural gas. We need renewables so we are not dependent on them. If I had to choose who would have greater influence, whether Germans of the 21st century or Russians of the 21st century then hands down the Germans. It's not as if Russia always saw as friends and never attacked out of good will. They just never had power in this area. If they had I'm sure we would have ended up like Poland.
Ideally we would be subservient to no one, but we are a country of 10 million and uniting Eastern Europe with it's diverse population and needs is extremely hard. What we have and I fully support is the Visegrád Group. I think we should invite countries like Slovenia, Croatia and the Baltic countries. I do remain convinced that EU membership is a net positive for my country.
[–] 7269582? ago
Do you really think that there is a safe space?
Eid al Adha in Moscow 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK5EL4mjWEY
[–] KazKoz [S] ago
Fuck safe spaces, what I mean is that Russia seems to have a better handle on this and is not totally cucked like other countries.
[–] 7269672? 0 points 7 points 7 points (+7|-0) ago
No they are no, the only difference is that Russia can hide it better in its media.