Thought I've spent years studying issues related to the origins and history of the Cold War, I confess my ignorance about many of the specifics about fascist actions since WWII and how they affect overarching Ukrainian/Russian relations. I also appreciate that there are a host of cultural/political issues that arise from ethnic identities and ethnic conflicts in E. Europe since WWII. In the US, we have problems understanding the history of cultural conflict between racial groups and between Tribal identities. Thus who can claim confidence about understanding conflicts between ethnic/language groups in E.Europe and Ukraine?
Just as Europeans would have difficulty understanding conflicts between various "black" groups -- and between various Indian tribes, I think it is a stretch to assume we can easily understand cultural/religious/intellectual conflicts among tribes in the US, let alone severe political factions in both our major political parties. Seems it is NOT unreasonable to assume we face a similar problem trying to understand the complexities of the contemporary conflict. Before WWI, most had simple but 'valid' views about the 'enemy' --simple views about the forces of light and darkness. Four years later--and for decades since, simple views fail to impress or satisfy. JMHO.
Thought I've spent years studying issues related to the origins and history of the Cold War, I confess my ignorance about many of the specifics about fascist actions since WWII and how they affect overarching Ukrainian/Russian relations. I also appreciate that there are a host of cultural/political issues that arise from ethnic identities and ethnic conflicts in E. Europe since WWII. In the US, we have problems understanding the history of cultural conflict between racial groups and between Tribal identities. Thus who can claim confidence about understanding conflicts between ethnic/language groups in E.Europe and Ukraine?
Just as Europeans would have difficulty understanding conflicts between various "black" groups -- and between various Indian tribes, I think it is a stretch to assume we can easily understand cultural/religious/intellectual conflicts among tribes in the US, let alone severe political factions in both our major political parties. Seems it is NOT unreasonable to assume we face a similar problem trying to understand the complexities of the contemporary conflict. Before WWI, most had simple but 'valid' views about the 'enemy' --simple views about the forces of light and darkness. Four years later--and for decades since, simple views fail to impress or satisfy. JMHO.