How to win friends and influence people
(Putin style)
By Owen Matthews
With Russia’s economy nose-diving in the wake of EU and US sanctions and falling oil prices, bringing influential Westerners over to Russia’s side has become essential, politically and economically. Experts say attempts by the Kremlin to charm new partners are part of a concerted effort to divide and rule.Vladimir Putin knows how to make friends and influence people.
It takes charm, a little anti-Americanism, a dollop of conservative family-values ideology, some visionary-leader atmospherics and, of course, money.
Over recent years, the Kremlin has been busy deploying all these tactics and more to attract, or in some cases to rent, allies across Europe. Now, with the West uniting against Russia, the Kremlin has ordered that campaign expanded. With Russia’s economy nose-diving in the wake of EU and US sanctions and falling oil prices, bringing influential Westerners over to Russia’s side has become essential, politically and economically.
“Overall, the plan is to have a way to subvert European unity, and ultimately Euro-Atlantic unity,” says Peter Pomerantsev, author of Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible, a study of the world of Kremlin propaganda.
Despite the annexation of Crimea, a bloody six-month separatist war in eastern Ukraine and crackdowns on gays, journalists and opponents at home, Russia can still boast some powerful European friends.
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Read more: www.buenosairesherald.com
By Owen Matthews
With Russia’s economy nose-diving in the wake of EU and US sanctions and falling oil prices, bringing influential Westerners over to Russia’s side has become essential, politically and economically. Experts say attempts by the Kremlin to charm new partners are part of a concerted effort to divide and rule.Vladimir Putin knows how to make friends and influence people.
It takes charm, a little anti-Americanism, a dollop of conservative family-values ideology, some visionary-leader atmospherics and, of course, money.
Over recent years, the Kremlin has been busy deploying all these tactics and more to attract, or in some cases to rent, allies across Europe. Now, with the West uniting against Russia, the Kremlin has ordered that campaign expanded. With Russia’s economy nose-diving in the wake of EU and US sanctions and falling oil prices, bringing influential Westerners over to Russia’s side has become essential, politically and economically.
“Overall, the plan is to have a way to subvert European unity, and ultimately Euro-Atlantic unity,” says Peter Pomerantsev, author of Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible, a study of the world of Kremlin propaganda.
Despite the annexation of Crimea, a bloody six-month separatist war in eastern Ukraine and crackdowns on gays, journalists and opponents at home, Russia can still boast some powerful European friends.
...............
Read more: www.buenosairesherald.com
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