2022 Wrap-up part 3: The power struggle within the Russian establishment, with Youri Smouter

“On the Barricades” s06e13

Comrades, friends and supporters, this weekend we have a three-part release of “On the Barricades” with host Boyan Stanislavski and our repeat-guest and friend of the show, Youri Smouter of 1+1. Boyan and Youri are doing a wrap-up and reflection on what they view as important trends and processes for the Left in relation to world events of 2022. To paraphrase the philosopher Spinoza, our task is neither to weep, nor to laugh, nor to hate, but understand the processes and actions of historical and political significance that are unfolding around us. We at The Barricade have strived to bring balanced analysis and commentary from a leftist, Eastern-European perspective without getting swept away by liberal hysteria, war-mongering, idealist identity politics, cancel culture, or outright a-historical craze that sweeps the public discourse. We are enthused to continue this project into the new year, staying the course and opening a space for genuine political discussion on the left at a time when it seems media consumers are being prepared, by the powers that be, for ongoing war and confusion, buried under narratives and propaganda more than ever.

In this third of three segments, Boyan and Youri discuss:
2:00 The direction of On the Barricades show in the new year; growth versus quality and political aim as a media outlet; your role as viewers!
23:06 Laughability of the thesis that Polish military is equipped to invade Ukraine
30:00 Eastern Europe dragged into the war? Youri on why ground invasion in Ukraine is suicidal
32:00 The real war for regime change in Russia: is in the Russian establishment– elaboration on this important factor by Boyan, with historical background into Putin’s orientation to the oligarchy
39:40 Dugin - Lukashenko conversation about the remnants of the Russian oligarchy embedded in bureaucracy currently, who love Putin, and wait for moment where they can shoot him in the back of the head
45:06 Fear of the whole Russian establishment of a self-organized social uprising allied with the Russian army, against the sabotage of the war by the Putin bureaucracy