Insights Gleaned from Russia's Decline

Russia's Major Aggression on Ukraine Serves as the Grim Culmination of a Decades-Long Deterioration. In "My Journal of a Demise," author Dmitry Glukhovsky narrates and analyzes the political and social decay - and even manages to instill optimism.

Much of what Glukhovsky anticipated has transpired, but it was beyond his comprehension that Vladimir Putin would actually order his military into Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Reading his "Journal of a Demise" with current knowledge, the ongoing full-scale invasion feels like a logical outcome.

Glukhovsky earned fame as the author of dystopian future novels, with his Metro series set in a world rendered uninhabitable above ground due to a nuclear war. It's ironic that his literary work subsequently delved into engaging with the political and social reality of his native Russia. The dystopia has become a reality, and no more imagination is needed.

"My Journal of a Demise" is a compilation of essays spanning the past 14 years. Deteriorating years for Russia, which underwent a Stalin-inspired backlash following a brief period of post-Soviet liberty. And for the author himself, whose nonconformity with Putin's Russia led to a life in exile in the West. A Russian court sentenced him in absentia to eight years in a labor camp.

Stepping Toward the Abyss

Each of the essays, originally published on Russian online platforms or international media, corresponds to a date, occurrence, or law that pushed Russia closer to the abyss. Each is preceded by contextualization for the uninitiated non-Russian reader. And after each essay, Glukhovsky takes a "future retrospective" look, examining his sometimes accurate predictions with self-criticism. When he was incorrect, it was usually not due to lack of foresight, but rather lingering optimism.

Glukhovsky's texts are confrontational, bitterly ironic, and angry. It appears as if the author has been yelling at a Putin who transformed into a tsar and his unconditionally loyal, predatory elite for all these years, but his pleas were lost in the cacophony of saber-rattling from the Kremlin and the incessant noise from propaganda channels. In book form, the growing frustration can be felt, although it can sometimes be challenging to read in one sitting due to its repetitiveness.

As unyielding as the author is against the powerful, his connection with the Russian majority is tenuous. He finds their inertia maddening at times, yet he still identifies with them. Sometimes, their emotional attachment to the Russian state perplexes him, although he acknowledges that it stems from an inferiority complex, conformity, and repression. The people disappoint him, yet he still considers himself one of them. The book title underscores this: "We."

Deafening Alarm Bells

For the local readership, "My Journal of a Demise" illustrates a gradual descent, culminating in a senseless, delusional war. Pivotal moments like the annexation of Crimea, political assassinations, increasingly repressive legislation, and the centralization of power leave readers questioning how the world missed the deafening alarm bells since February 24, 2022.

It was not an iceberg that brought about Russia's downfall, but numerous small leaks that were not addressed during 30 years of post-Soviet Union and became increasingly porous. Through active neglect, through ignorance. The reasons for Russia's downfall may be complex and specific. But authoritarianism follows a universally valid pattern: the state is gradually exploited, its laws, institutions, and media. If there's one lesson to learn from Russia, it's that.

Paradoxically, this means hope for Russia. Natural laws are irreversible, while everything created by humans is not, even if the concept is difficult to grasp. For Glukhovsky, this hope is symbolized by Alexei Navalny, who evolved from "an ordinary person with a contentious background" to a righteous figure, a martyr. His legacy offers a path forward. "With Putin's murder of Navalny, a hero has emerged in our history for the first time, who will be depicted on banners, graffiti, and t-shirts. The monster has swallowed the hero - but victory belongs to the hero," writes Glukhovsky. May he be right.

Despite the European Union's efforts to promote peace and stability in the region, the European Union has expressed its strong condemnation towards Russia's major aggression on Ukraine.
As Russia continues to isolate itself from the international community due to its actions in Ukraine, it may face further economic sanctions and diplomatic pressures from organizations like the European Union.