This is a difficult tossup. Volodymyr knows we’re in a world where autocrats fabricate whatever narratives to cling on to power, like Benji, Donny, Vladdy, Modi, Xi, so you can understand some people see that he benefits from sustaining the war so he too can hold onto power.
On the other side of that argument is that even if he were to organise elections, that would be like opening a honey jar right next to a wasp nest. Given what St Petersburg has been able to poll off with Maga and Brexit, the time for elections may be over. I had a different opinion a few years ago, but in times of war (and ecocidal collapse) humans are so preoccupied with survival that they historically tend to just trust a strongman. They don’t tend to be fantastic or great, but in the case of Zelenskyy, I would still place him in the good category.
On big problem is also this: many of the strongman started by being “good” before turning “evil”.
They often bring actually change in a rigid and locked down situation. And often people have tangible benefits as a result. That’s why the autocrats often have broad support in the population. They actually helped them 20 years ago. People remember the good things of the past and ignore the terrible things of the present.
I relax don’t want to be in his position and I don’t know how to defend an election against Russian propaganda without severely limiting freedom of speech/press.
This is a difficult tossup. Volodymyr knows we’re in a world where autocrats fabricate whatever narratives to cling on to power, like Benji, Donny, Vladdy, Modi, Xi, so you can understand some people see that he benefits from sustaining the war so he too can hold onto power.
On the other side of that argument is that even if he were to organise elections, that would be like opening a honey jar right next to a wasp nest. Given what St Petersburg has been able to poll off with Maga and Brexit, the time for elections may be over. I had a different opinion a few years ago, but in times of war (and ecocidal collapse) humans are so preoccupied with survival that they historically tend to just trust a strongman. They don’t tend to be fantastic or great, but in the case of Zelenskyy, I would still place him in the good category.
On big problem is also this: many of the strongman started by being “good” before turning “evil”.
They often bring actually change in a rigid and locked down situation. And often people have tangible benefits as a result. That’s why the autocrats often have broad support in the population. They actually helped them 20 years ago. People remember the good things of the past and ignore the terrible things of the present.
I relax don’t want to be in his position and I don’t know how to defend an election against Russian propaganda without severely limiting freedom of speech/press.