Putin Has 'Mummified' Russia | Ivan Krastev On the Putin Effect | GZERO World

Vladimir Putin has a much bigger long-term problem beyond Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin has a much bigger long-term problem beyond Ukraine: Russia's population is shrinking, which for political scientist Ivan Krastev will impact how post-Putin Russia looks like because Putin won't let Russians even talk about it.

That's a big deal, he tells Ian Bremmer, because the West seems to be primarily focused on isolating Russia while dreaming of a post-Putin world ... without Russia.

Meanwhile, Krastev says the Russians are prepping for a future in which they deal with China instead of the West — which is equally far off for them.

The result of all this will be a Russia that's so isolated that it's like under forever COVID quarantine.

Why? It's the Putin effect, which has killed our capacity to imagine a Russia without him.

Krastev says that Putin, a big fan of the USSR, has leveled up from old Soviet leaders by mummifying Russia itself.

#GZEROWorld #Russia #Putin

[pieterpopster]

If you're worried about a declining population it might be best not to send the young men to war.

[geosync]

I think Stalin also played a big part in lowering Russia's population. Don't forget that fella, Putin.

[jerryrichardson]

"Containment is a form of engagement" exactly.

[simpledragon]

I could not hear his words, you should put captions on what he said.

[finn]

There has actually been population decline in all western countries, due to decreasing birth rates. Happening in the U.S., EU countries, Australia etc.. Thing is, it is offset by immigration in America and Europe. Whereas Russia does not have much in the way of immigration. It is not a country that attracts hundreds of thousands of people per year, due to the stagnant economy and low living standards.

[jonobester]

Yes, they CAN and WILL be defeated, utterly, with the use of conventional weapons only.

[Kaniballoy]

Ian looks more depressed every day. You okay?

[maxbests]

Dont blame Ian on looking depressed, we are in a very depressing place...

[lawrenceralph]

Make your young women happy. They will make babies. This makes young men happy and gives them a purpose. . Make your own women really happy and young men will be happy and busy and you'll turn around your population problem in no time.

You'll build new modern infrastructure to support all your fat babies as they grow. And mommies will want to make more babies which makes men happy. In 25 years the new population boom creates an economic boom that last 50 years.

So Vlad. Make your young women happy..