Nipate
Forum => Kenya Discussion => Topic started by: Nowayhaha on December 24, 2022, 07:34:08 PM
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Apart from personal things like loosing loved ones and loved ones going to ICU . On the political scene my lowest point was Ukraine war .
Going back in 90s to 2000s in out social studies lessons we used to be told that eventually there will be war in Ukraine because half of Ukraine is Russia and NovoRussia the other half is Romania, Poland and Hungary .
I was puzzled when Putin allowed Baltic states to enter NATO then he argued he needed gas money and he was cheated by Merkel.
In 2014 when went I to world cup in Brazil I remember Donbass rebels had encircled Ukrainian Nazi forces Putin decided to release them and signed the Minsk agreements . I was buffled I remember telling my Brazilian friend Putin has signed breakaway of Russia.
Now when Russia started the special operation I was like better now than in 5 years . I supported Bidden to settle Corona and Im a democrat however as with Hillary Clinton I knew Bidden will wage a war against Russia. Bidden is a war Monger from his day in senate when he made Yugoslavia break up when he was very vocal to wage war against Yugoslavia during the Kosovo crisis.
Now having said that Russia wont let Ukraine be a colony of Western powers it will be their end. There are 27 republics and autonomous oblast in Russia . The most resource rich areas are in non Rus republics. Ukrainian are more Rus than even these areas . Ulrainians are Russians and Russians are Ukrainians . They are both Rus why are they fighting is same thing which has happened over centuries Mongolians , Polski , Luthenians , Hungarians have always waged a rift between Rus . In that in between centuries have colonized Ukrainians . When Ukrainians needed help they have always gotten from Moskva .
My wish is the war ends , they reconcile Ukraine is Russia and Russia is Ukraine.
Now on Ruto by 2017 we knew he would be the president , he made the right moved abandoned listening to the likes of RV Pundit who was telling to take on BBI heads on and that he could do it without GEMA, in the current political set up with the current constitution it simply impossible.I think Rutos win was more significant than Uhurus win in 2013 and Kibakis win in 2007. We love Ruto hopefully he changes Kenya and stay away from the likes of RV Pundit
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Look like you have two problems.
1) Biden - for finishing Putin's Russia.
2) Me.
You can only have problem with me if you have a problem with facts, science, common senses, sound arguments and such.
My fidelity is to facts. If facts change - I change.
You should relax. I dont speak to Ruto. RvHH speak to him.
Personally I started noticing Ruto in 2001 and I am not suprised he became PORK.
Although I hated KANU in those days - I couldnt help but notice Ruto talent. You somehow was only seeing the drunkard Uhuru in 2002 - crazy if you ask me.
Most of you just saw Ruto recently as terrific talent. Moi saw in early 1990s.
Did Ruto listen to you - of course not - Ruto fought BBI - but smartly - he was behind the court cases - and spoke against it - without expending energy.
Anyway being relatively new to Ruto camp - relax - Ruto is very very very solid. He is dependable. He is a gentleman. And he is going to teach you a lot about good manners :).
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Did Ruto listen to me about BBI yes he did wont spill the beans but get the hint Ruto and Karua didnt want to work together we brought them together. Thats it for now . As for you you are good in entertainment continue praising Ruto He will never even touch one of your ideas.
Look like you have two problems.
1) Biden - for finishing Putin's Russia.
2) Me.
You can only have problem with me if you have a problem with facts, science, common senses, sound arguments and such.
My fidelity is to facts. If facts change - I change.
You should relax. I dont speak to Ruto. RvHH speak to him.
Personally I started noticing Ruto in 2001 and I am not suprised he became PORK.
Although I hate KANU in those days - I couldnt help but notice Ruto talent.
Most of you just saw Ruto recently as terrific talent. Moi saw in early 1990s.
Did Ruto listen to you - of course not - Ruto fought BBI - but smartly - he was behind the court cases - and spoke against it - without expending energy.
Any being relatively new to Ruto camp - relax - Ruto is very very very solid. He is dependable. He is a gentleman. And he is going to teach you a lot about good manners :)
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Then why do you have big problem with me :) I am here indeed for entertainment. I have never imagine that I am that influential.
Did Ruto touching KQ come close to your interest? Or what exactly is going on?
Did Ruto listen to me about BBI yes he did wont spill the beans but get the hint Ruto and Karua didnt want to work together we brought them together. Thats it for now . As for you you are good in entertainment continue praising Ruto He will never even touch one of your ideas.
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I want Ruto to succeed, as for KQ forget it no one can touch it, you touch it and you are out of power . See how Murkomen is behaving lately.
Then why do you have big problem with me :) I am here indeed for entertainment. I have never imagine that I am that influential.
Did Ruto touching KQ come close to your interest? Or what exactly is going on?
Did Ruto listen to me about BBI yes he did wont spill the beans but get the hint Ruto and Karua didnt want to work together we brought them together. Thats it for now . As for you you are good in entertainment continue praising Ruto He will never even touch one of your ideas.
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Your drunkard Uhuru brought IMF - IMF want it killed. Murkomen is not involved.
IMF Reaches Staff Level Agreement on the Fourth Reviews of ...https://www.imf.org › News › Articles › 2022/11/08
8 Nov 2022 — Reform of financially-troubled state-owned enterprises—including Kenya Airways and Kenya Power and Lighting Company will also be key.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) wants a speedy privatisation of Kenya Airways
I want Ruto to succeed, as for KQ forget it no one can touch it, you touch it and you are out of power . See how Murkomen is behaving lately.
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UhuruMoi have interests there , pay them and you can kill it hizi zengine kelele ya chura.
Is it impossible to make KQ work , KQ used to work we know how it can work .
Your drunkard Uhuru brought IMF - IMF want it killed.
IMF Reaches Staff Level Agreement on the Fourth Reviews of ...https://www.imf.org › News › Articles › 2022/11/08
8 Nov 2022 — Reform of financially-troubled state-owned enterprises—including Kenya Airways and Kenya Power and Lighting Company will also be key.
I want Ruto to succeed, as for KQ forget it no one can touch it, you touch it and you are out of power . See how Murkomen is behaving lately.
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So Uhuru and Moi are more powerful than IMF and Ruto.
Stop writting nonsense in this forum.
KQ only worked when KLM was running the show.
Delta are coming to run the show.
We have proven ourselves incapable
UhuruMoi have interests there , pay them and you can kill it hizi zengine kelele ya chura.
Is it impossible to make KQ work , KQ used to work we know how it can work .
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So IMF was powerful during Kibakis time. Uhuru already tied KQ to IMF in the last bunch. Let IMF finance KQ sale.
Ruto is as powerful as he minimizes mistakes. By 2020 Uhuru was Kenyan President but not powerful . If he was Powerful your Icon Raila would be president.
So Uhuru and Moi are more powerful than IMF and Ruto.
Stop writting nonsense in this forum.
KQ only worked when KLM was running the show.
Delta are coming to run the show.
We have proven ourselves incapable
UhuruMoi have interests there , pay them and you can kill it hizi zengine kelele ya chura.
Is it impossible to make KQ work , KQ used to work we know how it can work .
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KQ is dead like Raila.
I know you really wish I was in Azimio with Raila.
So IMF was powerful during Kibakis time. Uhuru already tied KQ to IMF in the last bunch. Let IMF finance KQ sale.
Ruto is as powerful as he minimizes mistakes. By 2020 Uhuru was Kenyan President but not powerful . If he was Powerful your Icon Raila would be president.
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But you are , its evident by heart you are an Odmer from supporting Raila in 2007 and being an adherent supporter of Bomas draft which wa calling for regional governments.
Do you know Ruto has been against Raila politics since time memorial since KANU . Ruto hates Raila
As a person who has been in Rutos corner for more than 20 years Ive never understood his beef with Raila . Have I ever asked him yes . It boils down to to the politics Raila plays like you he thinks he can get away with anything.
KQ is dead like Raila.
I know you really wish I was in Azimio with Raila.
So IMF was powerful during Kibakis time. Uhuru already tied KQ to IMF in the last bunch. Let IMF finance KQ sale.
Ruto is as powerful as he minimizes mistakes. By 2020 Uhuru was Kenyan President but not powerful . If he was Powerful your Icon Raila would be president.
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Trying to transfer your hatred of Raila and Luos to Kalenjin is hilarious.
Ruto doesnt hate Raila. He was ODM brain and executioner.
He just considers Raila a tactless fool who cannot take power.
He worked with Raila once he moved to Majimbo.
I am diehard majimboist - I believe in federalism - because face it - we are 42 tribes
If you call it regional gov or devolution or federalism they mean the same thing.
Every nation - or tribe - deserve their own government - at bare minimum.
Raila is late entry to federalism - Luos and Kikuyus were opposed to it from 1950s.
Luos fears were similar to GEMA fears.
Luos had emigrated all over kenya as labourers just like Kikuyus.
Their running fear from 1950s to 2000s - was the fate of their immigrants in devolved units.
It's only when Raila joined KANU that he adopted Majimbo.
Luos eventually realized their fears of majimbo was unfounded.
Kikuyus situation had become even more complicated with their people moving enmasse to rift valley and coast.
Therefore the compromise was devolution - using old district - as regions became a big issues esp south rift and central rift.
We have to thank Dr Mbai - the fallen hero
You really wish that everyone hated Raila :) - like you do - so you can justify the hatred that Jomo Kenyatta implanted on you.
Ruto has appointed Dr Omollo to replace Kibicho because he has no beef with Luos.
I now understand why the Samburu Lelewa think most of your kikuyus are incapable of leading kenya because you're too insular and selfish. It all about you - everyone else is a problem - somalis are problem - Luos are problem.
Heck it took 2007 to shock the kikuyu nation out of selfishness and this 2022 - for first time ever - they voted non-kikuyu.
You're making progress - you actually love and want to own Ruto now :) :) The selfishness - you want Ruto for yourselves - no one should have him. I am Raila man :)
Anyway, you're making progress - you just need more cultural re-engineering to weed out the selfishness - and realize there is enough for everyone, even Raila is welcome to UDA if he joins today.
Ruto biggest hurdle to unite kenya is confronting the ingrained GEMA selfishness - he has to eventually like Moi did in 1980s - to appease few GEMA ingrates who will never get enough of everything or build a nation.
And to be friend with kalenjin nation - realize one thing - Kalenjin are one of most generous people you can think of - Kalenjin hate Dorobos and Okiek for their selfishness (they call them dogs - for being selfish) - kikuyus are new but their selfishness is well noted - but for us kalenjin - you can go to any house - and they will share whatever they have with you. Generosity is greatest virtue in our culture - and if you go to any house - the owner is obligated at least to give your water or milk - heck they were even obligated to give your a bed and one of his wives :) if you were to spend the night as stranger.
But you are , its evident by heart you are an Odmer from supporting Raila in 2007 and being an adherent supporter of Bomas draft which wa calling for regional governments.
Do you know Ruto has been against Raila politics since time memorial since KANU . Ruto hates Raila
As a person who has been in Rutos corner for more than 20 years Ive never understood his beef with Raila . Have I ever asked him yes . It boils down to to the politics Raila plays like you he thinks he can get away with anything.
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Lee Njiru having stayed with kalenjin for years - might help you understand Ruto and kalenjin
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000081494/kikuyu-kalenjin-unity-calls-for-a-re-look-at-what-triggered-post-election-violence
They chose, as if on a central cue, to bide their time. Why was there no immediate reaction? The reason is that the Kalenjin are not overly given to displays of emotion. They have a high kindling temperature even when provoked. But nobody should make a mistake. When they eventually catch fire and explode, they do not disappoint on the Richter scale. They are slow to anger. Resentment may simmer in them for up to five years. They are cold and methodical calculators. Unprovoked, they are wonderfully generous . Any broad-minded politician should know that the Kalenjin have a fearsome military culture and tradition. Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, a wise leader, tapped into this asset to effectively combat the shifta menace. A few Kibaki lieutenants, out of sheer bigotry and ignorance of Kenya’s geopolitics antagonised the same. The country paid heavily for this folly.
And that cold calculating methodical tactical generosity is reason why both Moi and Ruto became president. Ruto gives out millions daily - and he wins support as people appreciate that. Raila makes news when he contribute 300k for air ticket. While Ruto rival Moi for number of harambees he has participated in....almost in every corner of kenya.
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If Ruto so loved Majimbo why did he oppose it and created this new constitution ?
Trying to transfer your hatred of Raila and Luos to Kalenjin is hilarious.
Ruto doesnt hate Raila. He was ODM brain and executioner.
He just considers Raila a tactless fool who cannot take power.
He worked with Raila once he moved to Majimbo.
I am diehard majimboist - I believe in federalism - because face it - we are 42 tribes
If you call it regional gov or devolution or federalism they mean the same thing.
Raila is late entry to federalism - Luos and Kikuyus were opposed to it from 1950s.
Luos fears were similar to GEMA fears.
Luos had emigrated all over kenya as labourers just like Kikuyus.
It's only when Raila joined KANU that he adopted Majimbo.
Luos eventually realized their fears of majimbo was unfounded.
Kikuyus situation had become even more complicated with their people moving enmasse to rift valley and coast.
Therefore the compromise was devolution - using old district - as regions became a big issues esp south rift and central rift.
We have to thank Dr Mbai - the fallen hero
You really wish that everyone hated Raila :) - like you do - so you can justify the hatred that Jomo Kenyatta implanted on you.
Ruto has appointed Dr Omollo to replace Kibicho because he has no beef with Luos.
But you are , its evident by heart you are an Odmer from supporting Raila in 2007 and being an adherent supporter of Bomas draft which wa calling for regional governments.
Do you know Ruto has been against Raila politics since time memorial since KANU . Ruto hates Raila
As a person who has been in Rutos corner for more than 20 years Ive never understood his beef with Raila . Have I ever asked him yes . It boils down to to the politics Raila plays like you he thinks he can get away with anything.
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Ruto opposed the constitution for not having strong majimbo
He would be insane to oppose Majimbo.
Kalenjin are diehard majimboist.
Luos and Raila are new in Majimbo.
They were opposed to Majimbo with Kikuyus and Bukusu for the longest - since 1950s - lancaster conference till 2000.
They were centrist.
RV and Coast were majimboist. Somalis are secessionist of course believing in Somalia irredentism.
In fact the first time Raila supported Majimbo was in NDP proposal to CKRC in 2000.
If Ruto so loved Majimbo why did he oppose it and created this new constitution ?
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This was 12yrs ago
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000006613/ruto-rift-mps-root-for-majimbo
Agriculture Minister William Ruto and four North Rift MPs have supported a devolved system of government.
The five also threatened to reject the Proposed Constitution unless contentious clauses are amended.
Ruto backed majimbo system, arguing it would ensure equity and encourage economic productivity.
Assistant ministers Charles Keter, Jebii Kilimo and MPs Joshua Kuttuny, Sammy Mwaita and Moses Lekuton backed Ruto’s push for regional governments.
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Here are Ruto thoughts and why he pushed for NO.
Ruto accepted presidential system in Naivasha with understanding they would be strong regional gov. Ruto opposed counties as weak - and I agree with him.
Devolution is good start - the end goal is federalism or majimbo - more power/resources to the counties - then kenya will heal. Right now Azimio are still 75% sick - but they had their own Jimbos - they would be 50% okay; 50% not okay; or heck in future; national gov should be 30%; counties should be 70%. Then Kenya will heal...as everyone get to decide their own fate in their own tribes or nations.
It's not just Russian and its tribes who desire this - even Samburu deserve a gov for and by Samburus - in Samburu nation - as much as practically possible - responding to their unique needs, culture and resources. The minorities in Samburu should be protected by constitution - but you cant deny majority samburus their right to self-govern because a few minorities might feel left out.
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/business/article/2000007984/ruto-why-i-will-vote-against-the-proposed-constitution
He described the devolution structure provided in the draft as flawed. "When we agreed on the pure presidential system of government at Naivasha, we wanted it to go hand in hand with strong regional governments that would counter-balance powers of the presidency," he said.
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Was this supposed to be a good thread or mchogoano between 2 bozos? Get a room you two. Fuck you both...
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Rv what is building a nation ? Have you studied how nations were built ? What you say of Luo and Kikuyus migrating all over Kenya is actually how nations are built. A kikuyu marrying a luo and breeding is what will build Kenya for generations to come . Ruto is a visionary unlike you i remember him saying notion that a kikuyu cant vote for another tribe is negative thinking , that was in 2008 come 2022 GEMA gave him more votes than even Kalenjins.
I will challenge you to study how Poland and Hungary became a nation. Kenya can become one nation , what it takes is a visionary leader and to do away with your thinking on 47 tribes . You will be suprised to learn your DNA is not Kalenjin alone
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State versus Nation.
Kenya will take maybe 500yrs before we become a nation.
For now and until then we have to accept that our ethnic group are nations and kenya is a state.
Nation building is what I always advocate for - you need to embrace Luos and others - and share the pie equally.
And we can do that through federalism.
US has evolved to be nation from mismatch of french, russian, dutch, name european, african and aboriginal identies.
And it has done so with strong federalism.
In short I can feel very Kalenjin; very kipsigis and very kenyan. I dont need to kill my kispigis identity to become a Kenyan.
I will only resort to one exclusively if I am not welcomed or treated fairly as a Kalenjin or a Kenyan.
You can be proud kikuyu and proud kenyan. You can belong to Muranga state and Kenya Nation. Africa continent. Human race. All can thrive. None has to die.
The idea that languages/culture need to die for one united identity to emerge is primitive. What unite people are stuff like fairness and equal opportunity.
Rv what is building a nation ? Have you studied how nations were built ? What you say of Luo and Kikuyus migrating all over Kenya is actually how nations are built. A kikuyu marrying a luo and breeding is what will build Kenya for generations to come . Ruto is a visionary unlike you i remember him saying notion that a kikuyu cant vote for another tribe is negative thinking , that was in 2008 come 2022 GEMA gave him more votes than even Kalenjins.
I will challenge you to study how Poland and Hungary became a nation. Kenya can become one nation , what it takes is a visionary leader and to do away with your thinking on 47 tribes . You will be suprised to learn your DNA is not Kalenjin alone
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You seem genuine only that the method you advocate for nationalism is wanting. Taking slso in consideration you married an Embu …… so uour children identfy themselves as Kalenjins?
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My children are half-kalenjin half-embu - and they are Nairobean if you will. The future in 500yrs will have many such kids being the majority. For now they are still a minority. Then kenyan identity will slowly form beyond the flag.
You seem genuine only that the method you advocate for nationalism is wanting. Taking slso in consideration you married an Embu …… so uour children identfy themselves as Kalenjins?
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Then you backword thinking . It does not require 500 years to build a Nation , it requires 3 to 4 generations . kenya is already in its 3rd generation or end of second Generation since Independence . Look at out leaders children already marrying different trines Uhurus, Raila and Rutos Children. When start creating tribal enclaves within Kenya we will have situations like Yugoslavia and USSR .
Lenin and Bolsheviks had good intentions when they decided to divide Russian empire into tribal enclaves gave part of Russia and decided to name it Ukraine just to appease Ukrainians who had been part of Austro Hungerian empire did the same with Belarus , Georgia etc
Years later they came to claim they were Independent countries . Same thing can happen down the lane Nyanza might decide to say they are independent , North Eastern same when they discover oil. The best way to create a Nation have people migrating and living working in different parts of Kenya . I think its one of the reason you hot an Embu else you would have remained in Bomet and married a Kalenjin.
Kenyans need to intermix and create a Kenyan identity.
Gema did the right thing by defying the so called tribal kingpin and voted for a Kenyan Kingpin , No other tribe has ever done that they always go where their kingpin is.
Look at the crisis in Serbia now , Kosovo are trapping Serbia to a war so that Serbia is destroyed by NATO and they can gain full independence , US supports this but when Cali wanted to be independence they were warned they will be met with full force.
Georgia made the same mistake in 2008 , Abhazia and South Ossetia claimed independence from Georgia , Russia used the opportunity to create a frozen conflict so as to prevent Georgia joining NATO . Same thing with Crimea and Transnistria .
Now a new frozen conflict with Donbass Zaporijejia and Xerson having decided to join Russia any negotiation will require Ukraine accepting these regions are in Russia .This is what you are advocating for Kenya will be in perpetual war if we decide to go the regional way .we have discussed the historical injustice during creation of the provinces . How do you explain Nakuru being in Rift Valley but part of it is legally in Central ? If Rift Valley as a region decide to secede then there will be a genocide there . This is the Kenya you want because you believe you are bound to benefit by a genocide.
From history and the current conflicts its evident Kenya is best as a Unitary state .
My children are half-kalenjin half-embu - and they are Nairobean if you will. The future in 500yrs will have many such kids being the majority. For now they are still a minority. Then kenyan identity will slowly form beyond the flag.
You seem genuine only that the method you advocate for nationalism is wanting. Taking slso in consideration you married an Embu …… so uour children identfy themselves as Kalenjins?
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First of all I didnt marry nor does anyone marry because of they want to create a non-tribal identity or because inter-marriages are okay. People marry because they fall in love. It has no other objective. It directionless.
Secondly understand what exist and what you desire.
In kenya 42 tribes exist. In Russisa and eastern europe many tribes exist.
In the UK - it's only welsh, irish, english and scottish.
In the US - apart from say Hawaian and Puertico - pretty much the rest have jelled into speaking English americans.
If tribes or nations already exist - federalism or devolution- is inevitable - otherwise you will have civil war and endless conflict.
Once they dont exist - like Italy or France or Germany - now - then you can form unitary gov.
It's possible our tribes will die in 500yrs; that is maybe 100 generations - then a unitary gov will work.
Before that devolution and federalism are not avoiadable. They are absolutely neccessary.
If Ukrainans had given more powers to Russian speaking Eastern region - they would have avoided this war.
Their attempt to push for united Ukraine has resulted in this civil war - that Russia and NATO has invited themselves to - and made it even worse.
Solution for kenya and Ukraine - federalism. Let Donbash region have as much self-governce as possible and they will be happy to be ukraine - but self-governing russian speaking/culture Donbash region of Ukraine.
Kenya has become more stable with devolution. Now Azimio people dont feel they've lost it all and can process their losses. Now imagine like 2007 - people see an election loss as total blackout in 5yrs - you start to get kenya 2007, Ukraine 2004, 2014, and pretty much after every ukraine election - minorities want out
Then you backword thinking . It does not require 500 years to build a Nation , it requires 3 to 4 generations . kenya is already in its 3rd generation or end of second Generation since Independence . Look at out leaders children already marrying different trines Uhurus, Raila and Rutos Children. When start creating tribal enclaves within Kenya we will have situations like Yugoslavia and USSR .
Lenin and Bolsheviks had good intentions when they decided to divide Russian empire into tribal enclaves gave part of Russia and decided to name it Ukraine just to appease Ukrainians who had been part of Austro Hungerian empire did the same with Belarus , Georgia etc
Years later they came to claim they were Independent countries . Same thing can happen down the lane Nyanza might decide to say they are independent , North Eastern same when they discover oil. The best way to create a Nation have people migrating and living working in different parts of Kenya . I think its one of the reason you hot an Embu else you would have remained in Bomet and married a Kalenjin.
Kenyans need to intermix and create a Kenyan identity.
Gema did the right thing by defying the so called tribal kingpin and voted for a Kenyan Kingpin , No other tribe has ever done that they always go where their kingpin is.
Look at the crisis in Serbia now , Kosovo are trapping Serbia to a war so that Serbia is destroyed by NATO and they can gain full independence , US supports this but when Cali wanted to be independence they were warned they will be met with full force.
Georgia made the same mistake in 2008 , Abhazia and South Ossetia claimed independence from Georgia , Russia used the opportunity to create a frozen conflict so as to prevent Georgia joining NATO . Same thing with Crimea and Transnistria .
Now a new frozen conflict with Donbass Zaporijejia and Xerson having decided to join Russia any negotiation will require Ukraine accepting these regions are in Russia .This is what you are advocating for Kenya will be in perpetual war if we decide to go the regional way .we have discussed the historical injustice during creation of the provinces . How do you explain Nakuru being in Rift Valley but part of it is legally in Central ? If Rift Valley as a region decide to secede then there will be a genocide there . This is the Kenya you want because you believe you are bound to benefit by a genocide.
From history and the current conflicts its evident Kenya is best as a Unitary state .
My children are half-kalenjin half-embu - and they are Nairobean if you will. The future in 500yrs will have many such kids being the majority. For now they are still a minority. Then kenyan identity will slowly form beyond the flag.
You seem genuine only that the method you advocate for nationalism is wanting. Taking slso in consideration you married an Embu …… so uour children identfy themselves as Kalenjins?
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If its all about Love you could have still fallen in Love in Bomet.
Now that you bring Ukraine into the picture lets go back to how Ukraine was formed and tie it to Kenyas situation .
After Russian revolution Lenin and Bolesheviks after winning the Civilian war decided to form Tribal republics feom the Russian empire Ukraine was born out of nowhere by incorporating some NoRussia land and some land they had won after fall of Austo Hungarian Empire and the Polish Lithuanian Alliance . This is the same thing you are advocating to create regional republics which you call them federal republics .
Now 2014 crisis and 2022 crisis was initiated by Western Governments when they decided to install a Government which was not elected by Ukrainians , Majority of Ukrainians used to live in South Eastern part of Ukraine but were forcibly chased away and majority decided to take Russian Passports .
same thing can happen to North Eastern when they become embolded and have so much power they decide to hold a referendumn and call for North Eastern unification with Somalia.
Now would Ukraine have happened if Russia was Unitary like Russian Empire ? No it wouldnt have happened the genesis is not 2014 Maidan revolution but Lenins idea to create republics from foemwr Russian Empire.
2014 was just a misadventure by Ukrainian elites with support of Weatern governments when they decided to overthrow Yankuvich illegally , Having come from South East his people felt betrayed, Russia took advantage as it was another opportunity to create a frozen conflict which would have denied Ukraine joining European Union and NATO just like with Georgia in 2008 .
This was the ultimate goal the rest are details .
Make same mistake as Lenin did and make Kenya Regional Federal Government and in some few years either you will have many secession governments or others joining other countries.
we will have Maasai claiming Nairobi is their city just like Polish have been claiming Lvov is their city .
People need to believe in project Kenya . I can for free tell you your Kalenjin DNA is perhaps 60% the rest if from other Kenyan tribes but you are here singing Kalenjin Nationalism you want to take us back to where you say Transzoia is a Kalenjin County but dont want to go further when it was inhabited by Maasai .
Lets start thinking as Kenyans for a start and forget these tribal enclaves .
First of all I didnt marry nor does anyone marry because of they want to create a non-tribal identity or because inter-marriages are okay. People marry because they fall in love. It has no other objective. It directionless.
Secondly understand what exist and what you desire.
In kenya 42 tribes exist. In Russisa and eastern europe many tribes exist.
In the UK - it's only welsh, irish, english and scottish.
In the US - apart from say Hawaian and Puertico - pretty much the rest have jelled into speaking English americans.
If tribes or nations already exist - federalism or devolution- is inevitable - otherwise you will have civil war and endless conflict.
Once they dont exist - like Italy or France or Germany - now - then you can form unitary gov.
It's possible our tribes will die in 500yrs; that is maybe 100 generations - then a unitary gov will work.
Before that devolution and federalism are not avoiadable. They are absolutely neccessary.
If Ukrainans had given more powers to Russian speaking Eastern region - they would have avoided this war.
Their attempt to push for united Ukraine has resulted in this civil war - that Russia and NATO has invited themselves to - and made it even worse.
Solution for kenya and Ukraine - federalism. Let Donbash region have as much self-governce as possible and they will be happy to be ukraine - but self-governing russian speaking/culture Donbash region of Ukraine.
Kenya has become more stable with devolution. Now Azimio people dont feel they've lost it all and can process their losses. Now imagine like 2007 - people see an election loss as total blackout in 5yrs - you start to get kenya 2007, Ukraine 2004, 2014, and pretty much after every ukraine election - minorities want out
Then you backword thinking . It does not require 500 years to build a Nation , it requires 3 to 4 generations . kenya is already in its 3rd generation or end of second Generation since Independence . Look at out leaders children already marrying different trines Uhurus, Raila and Rutos Children. When start creating tribal enclaves within Kenya we will have situations like Yugoslavia and USSR .
Lenin and Bolsheviks had good intentions when they decided to divide Russian empire into tribal enclaves gave part of Russia and decided to name it Ukraine just to appease Ukrainians who had been part of Austro Hungerian empire did the same with Belarus , Georgia etc
Years later they came to claim they were Independent countries . Same thing can happen down the lane Nyanza might decide to say they are independent , North Eastern same when they discover oil. The best way to create a Nation have people migrating and living working in different parts of Kenya . I think its one of the reason you hot an Embu else you would have remained in Bomet and married a Kalenjin.
Kenyans need to intermix and create a Kenyan identity.
Gema did the right thing by defying the so called tribal kingpin and voted for a Kenyan Kingpin , No other tribe has ever done that they always go where their kingpin is.
Look at the crisis in Serbia now , Kosovo are trapping Serbia to a war so that Serbia is destroyed by NATO and they can gain full independence , US supports this but when Cali wanted to be independence they were warned they will be met with full force.
Georgia made the same mistake in 2008 , Abhazia and South Ossetia claimed independence from Georgia , Russia used the opportunity to create a frozen conflict so as to prevent Georgia joining NATO . Same thing with Crimea and Transnistria .
Now a new frozen conflict with Donbass Zaporijejia and Xerson having decided to join Russia any negotiation will require Ukraine accepting these regions are in Russia .This is what you are advocating for Kenya will be in perpetual war if we decide to go the regional way .we have discussed the historical injustice during creation of the provinces . How do you explain Nakuru being in Rift Valley but part of it is legally in Central ? If Rift Valley as a region decide to secede then there will be a genocide there . This is the Kenya you want because you believe you are bound to benefit by a genocide.
From history and the current conflicts its evident Kenya is best as a Unitary state .
My children are half-kalenjin half-embu - and they are Nairobean if you will. The future in 500yrs will have many such kids being the majority. For now they are still a minority. Then kenyan identity will slowly form beyond the flag.
You seem genuine only that the method you advocate for nationalism is wanting. Taking slso in consideration you married an Embu …… so uour children identfy themselves as Kalenjins?
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Of course, it all about love and opportunity. If i was in Russia in my 20s I am sure I would be married to a Russian girl. If I was in my village - I would have kept my first girlfirend and married her. I was in Nairobi and met the first embu - and married.
Tribes be they in kenya or Russia or Ukraine deserve some form of self-governance. Also devolution is generally good even in one tribe nation - because the more power at grassroot - the more participatory democracy.
Now how do you resolve say Nakuru or Tranzoia or Nairobi.
We can do the politics we have done - where governor come from tribe A, senator tribe B.
Or we can even redraw boundary - split Tranzoia - one part into Bungoma - kalenjin parts can become part of Uasin Gishu or etc.
Such areas are few - and I can
If its all about Love you could have still fallen in Love in Bomet.
Now that you bring Ukraine into the picture lets go back to how Ukraine was formed and tie it to Kenyas situation .
After Russian revolution Lenin and Bolesheviks after winning the Civilian war decided to form Tribal republics feom the Russian empire Ukraine was born out of nowhere by incorporating some NoRussia land and some land they had won after fall of Austo Hungarian Empire and the Polish Lithuanian Alliance . This is the same thing you are advocating to create regional republics which you call them federal republics .
Now 2014 crisis and 2022 crisis was initiated by Western Governments when they decided to install a Government which was not elected by Ukrainians , Majority of Ukrainians used to live in South Eastern part of Ukraine but were forcibly chased away and majority decided to take Russian Passports .
same thing can happen to North Eastern when they become embolded and have so much power they decide to hold a referendumn and call for North Eastern unification with Somalia.
Now would Ukraine have happened if Russia was Unitary like Russian Empire ? No it wouldnt have happened the genesis is not 2014 Maidan revolution but Lenins idea to create republics from foemwr Russian Empire.
2014 was just a misadventure by Ukrainian elites with support of Weatern governments when they decided to overthrow Yankuvich illegally , Having come from South East his people felt betrayed, Russia took advantage as it was another opportunity to create a frozen conflict which would have denied Ukraine joining European Union and NATO just like with Georgia in 2008 .
This was the ultimate goal the rest are details .
Make same mistake as Lenin did and make Kenya Regional Federal Government and in some few years either you will have many secession governments or others joining other countries.
we will have Maasai claiming Nairobi is their city just like Polish have been claiming Lvov is their city .
People need to believe in project Kenya . I can for free tell you your Kalenjin DNA is perhaps 60% the rest if from other Kenyan tribes but you are here singing Kalenjin Nationalism you want to take us back to where you say Transzoia is a Kalenjin County but dont want to go further when it was inhabited by Maasai .
Lets start thinking as Kenyans for a start and forget these tribal enclaves .
First of all I didnt marry nor does anyone marry because of they want to create a non-tribal identity or because inter-marriages are okay. People marry because they fall in love. It has no other objective. It directionless.
Secondly understand what exist and what you desire.
In kenya 42 tribes exist. In Russisa and eastern europe many tribes exist.
In the UK - it's only welsh, irish, english and scottish.
In the US - apart from say Hawaian and Puertico - pretty much the rest have jelled into speaking English americans.
If tribes or nations already exist - federalism or devolution- is inevitable - otherwise you will have civil war and endless conflict.
Once they dont exist - like Italy or France or Germany - now - then you can form unitary gov.
It's possible our tribes will die in 500yrs; that is maybe 100 generations - then a unitary gov will work.
Before that devolution and federalism are not avoiadable. They are absolutely neccessary.
If Ukrainans had given more powers to Russian speaking Eastern region - they would have avoided this war.
Their attempt to push for united Ukraine has resulted in this civil war - that Russia and NATO has invited themselves to - and made it even worse.
Solution for kenya and Ukraine - federalism. Let Donbash region have as much self-governce as possible and they will be happy to be ukraine - but self-governing russian speaking/culture Donbash region of Ukraine.
Kenya has become more stable with devolution. Now Azimio people dont feel they've lost it all and can process their losses. Now imagine like 2007 - people see an election loss as total blackout in 5yrs - you start to get kenya 2007, Ukraine 2004, 2014, and pretty much after every ukraine election - minorities want out
Then you backword thinking . It does not require 500 years to build a Nation , it requires 3 to 4 generations . kenya is already in its 3rd generation or end of second Generation since Independence . Look at out leaders children already marrying different trines Uhurus, Raila and Rutos Children. When start creating tribal enclaves within Kenya we will have situations like Yugoslavia and USSR .
Lenin and Bolsheviks had good intentions when they decided to divide Russian empire into tribal enclaves gave part of Russia and decided to name it Ukraine just to appease Ukrainians who had been part of Austro Hungerian empire did the same with Belarus , Georgia etc
Years later they came to claim they were Independent countries . Same thing can happen down the lane Nyanza might decide to say they are independent , North Eastern same when they discover oil. The best way to create a Nation have people migrating and living working in different parts of Kenya . I think its one of the reason you hot an Embu else you would have remained in Bomet and married a Kalenjin.
Kenyans need to intermix and create a Kenyan identity.
Gema did the right thing by defying the so called tribal kingpin and voted for a Kenyan Kingpin , No other tribe has ever done that they always go where their kingpin is.
Look at the crisis in Serbia now , Kosovo are trapping Serbia to a war so that Serbia is destroyed by NATO and they can gain full independence , US supports this but when Cali wanted to be independence they were warned they will be met with full force.
Georgia made the same mistake in 2008 , Abhazia and South Ossetia claimed independence from Georgia , Russia used the opportunity to create a frozen conflict so as to prevent Georgia joining NATO . Same thing with Crimea and Transnistria .
Now a new frozen conflict with Donbass Zaporijejia and Xerson having decided to join Russia any negotiation will require Ukraine accepting these regions are in Russia .This is what you are advocating for Kenya will be in perpetual war if we decide to go the regional way .we have discussed the historical injustice during creation of the provinces . How do you explain Nakuru being in Rift Valley but part of it is legally in Central ? If Rift Valley as a region decide to secede then there will be a genocide there . This is the Kenya you want because you believe you are bound to benefit by a genocide.
From history and the current conflicts its evident Kenya is best as a Unitary state .
My children are half-kalenjin half-embu - and they are Nairobean if you will. The future in 500yrs will have many such kids being the majority. For now they are still a minority. Then kenyan identity will slowly form beyond the flag.
You seem genuine only that the method you advocate for nationalism is wanting. Taking slso in consideration you married an Embu …… so uour children identfy themselves as Kalenjins?
-
Why is mwafrika afraid of contradictory ideas?? Always sees any exchange of ideas as unnecessary noise or fights?? Lack of information for any coherent discussion? Insecurity? Useless egos?
Was this supposed to be a good thread or mchogoano between 2 bozos? Get a room you two. Fuck you both...
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https://www.rt.com/russia/568832-hundred-years-of-transcaucasian-sfsr/
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Lenin's Yugoslavia: How a plan to create a 'Soviet Switzerland' was shot down by Stalin and other locals
Why the Transcaucasian SFSR created 100 years ago was not a viable state, and how Moscow influenced it
© RT
Exactly 100 years ago, the Transcaucasian Socialist Federal Republic (TSFSR) was formed, and became one of the four founding republics of the USSR. On December 13, 1922, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan attempted to create a single state. It could have been considered a forerunner of later similar projects, further west, such as Yugoslavia.
This ended with a long war in the Balkans, but Transcaucasia – after the collapse of the TSFSR –continued to live in peace for many years to come. How did it happen and what role did Moscow play?
On the Periphery of an Empire
After the revolution and during the Civil War, Transcaucasia was on the periphery of the central authorities’ attention. Life there continued as usual, while the fate of all the lands of the Russian Empire was decided in St. Petersburg. The Provisional Government, which convened after the abdication of Nicholas II in February of 1917, announced the convocation of a new representative body – the Constituent Assembly – while voicing the intention to grant nations the right to self-determination. A Special Transcaucasian Committee consisting of five State Duma deputies was created to manage the territories of the Tsarist Caucasian viceroyalty.
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The committee was headed by Vasily Kharlamov, representative of the liberal Party of Cadets. It also included representatives of the Socialist Revolutionaries, the most popular party in the empire, as well as the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the Azeri Musavat Party, and the Georgian Socialist-Federalist Revolutionary Party. The latter was later replaced by a member of the Menshevik Socialist Party, which was popular in Tbilisi.
This composition corresponded to the balance of power in the region and was convenient for managing and maintaining the status quo during preparations for the Constituent Assembly, but not for the upcoming power struggle. The fact is that in Transcaucasia, as well as throughout Russia, dual power was established very quickly. The Provisional Government formed by the State Duma enjoyed the right of succession of power and exercised its powers from the center, but grassroots councils of deputies consisting of workers, peasants and soldiers operated locally (the First World War was still ongoing).
In Transcaucasia, there were actually only two large cities, two capitals. The administrative and cultural center was Tiflis (as Tbilisi was called until 1936) in Georgia, which had been a center of tsarist power for 150 years. The economic and industrial center was Baku in Azerbaijan, where oil had been produced since the 1870s. And while the power of the Provisional Government prevailed in Tiflis, the local Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies headed by the charismatic Bolshevik Stepan Shaumyan was more important in working-class Baku. In October of 1917, the Bolsheviks carried out a military coup in Petrograd and announced the dissolution of the Provisional Government. Then, in place of the Special Committee, a Transcaucasian Commissariat was formed in Tiflis, where the Georgian Social Revolutionaries and Mensheviks, who were hostile to Lenin and the Bolsheviks, maintained control. At the same time, Soviet power was established in Baku, and Shaumyan was appointed extraordinary commissar of the Council of People’s Commissars (central government of the Bolsheviks) for the Caucasus.
FILE PHOTO.Chairman of the Baku Council of Workers' Deputies Stepan Shaumyan (1878-1918). © Sputnik
From Imperial Backwater to National Republic in No Time
While political strife was intensifying in the northern Caucasus Mountains and Red and White blocs were gradually forming in the Civil War, inter-ethnic conflicts rapidly escalated in Transcaucasia. With the de-facto disappearance of the central government in the region, the numerous bones of contention between the Armenians, Azerbaijanis, and Georgians increasingly led to clashes resulting in casualties. Most often, armed clashes took place in disputed territories between the Armenians and Azerbaijanis, especially in Elizavetpol (Ganja) and Erivan (Yerevan).
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The Ottoman Empire, which in recent years had suffered military defeats at the hands of the Russian army, added fuel to the fire. The Turks tried to reverse their fortunes by stirring unrest among the Muslim population of Azerbaijan and were quite successful in this. One of the leaders of the Georgian Mensheviks, Akaki Chkheneli, noted that “the armed Muslim population, adhering to the Turkish orientation, call themselves Turkish soldiers and terrorize the entire Christian population of Transcaucasia with its anarchic manifestations.”
After the Bolsheviks, who seized power in Petrograd, made peace with Turkey in December of 1917, the national question became less acute, and Transcaucasian politicians had the opportunity to decide how life would be organized in their lands. After the Bolsheviks had dispersed the Constituent Assembly, its deputies elected in the Transcaucasia formed a Transcaucasian Seim. Three national parties were represented in approximately the same proportion, with a slight formal preponderance of Georgians. It seemed that the situation in the region was stabilizing, but this feeling was deceptive.
Just two months after peace had been concluded with Turkey, when the Russian troops had nearly left the Caucasian Front, and the Armenian Corps, which had not yet been fully formed, took their place, the Turks violated the truce and launched a large-scale offensive.
As a result, the main task of the Transcaucasian Seim, which had not even had time to meet yet, was the conclusion of a peace treaty with Turkey. The question was at what price this peace would be achieved.
Union of Workers of Transcaucasia. Drawing from the newspaper "Challenge", April 22, 1923.
The disagreements between the three nations were particularly pronounced here. The Armenians advocated the preservation of Transcaucasia as part of Russia, since only it could guarantee the eastern Armenians safety from the massacre that befell their Western relatives. In addition, the Armenians hoped to preserve the territorial acquisitions of the Russian Empire in Western Armenia, which belonged to Turkey. The Azerbaijanis believed that Transcaucasia should decide its own fate independently of Russia, making peace with Turkey on the basis of refusing to interfere in its internal affairs. Moreover, the idea of joining Turkey was very popular among Azerbaijanis. The Georgian side basically supported Baku on the issue of declaring the independence of Transcaucasia and concluding an independent agreement with Turkey, since Transcaucasia simply did not have the strength to confront Turkey militarily. At the same time, the Georgians expected that Germany or another European power would become the guarantor of independence.
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None of the three sides was willing to compromise, and while they argued among themselves, Turkey made more and more ambitious demands on Transcaucasia as it easily advanced along the front. It quickly became clear that it would be easier for each of the peoples to achieve their goals separately – the Transcaucasian Federation lasted a little more than a month and was dissolved in May 1918.
In 1918-1920, the newly formed Transcaucasian republics that took its place fought with each other. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh was particularly bloody. The stability of the fledgling states was first guaranteed by the intervention of Germany and Turkey, and later, after they surrendered in the World War, by Britain, which was interested in Baku's oil. Britain intended to help the White troops in the south of Russia, and also supported national movements in the North Caucasus, including through the provision of weapons. In parallel, the Transcaucasian republics fought for recognition in the international arena and sought to enter the League of Nations.
However, all these efforts were nullified after the Red Army completed its defeat of the Whites in the North Caucasus in April of 1920 and entered Azerbaijan, the old base of the Baku Council. Subsequently, having agreed with the Turkish government of Kemal Ataturk, it went on to occupy Armenia and Georgia. Thus, the Bolsheviks’ power was established in all three of Transcaucasia’s national republics by the end of the year.
FILE PHOTO. Sergo Ordzhonikidze, Joseph Stalin, and Anastas Mikoyan. © Wikipedia
Where Revolution Ends
The year 1921 was pivotal in the Civil War. Uprisings broke out in the Tambov Region, Western Siberia, and Kronstadt, which were brutally suppressed by the Red Army. Famine raged in the Volga Region and in Ukraine. The first signs of an impending split appeared within the Bolshevik Party, and The New Economic Policy was announced. At the same time, there were discussions about the administrative structure of the new state and the solution of the national question.
From the onset of the Revolution, the Bolsheviks had vowed to destroy the Russian Empire as a “prison of peoples” and give all nationalities the right to self-determination. In the first stages, this actually saved them, since without the strength and organization of Latvian riflemen, their uprising would undoubtedly have been suppressed. But by the later stages of the war, during the march on Warsaw, this promise had, in fact, already been broken. Now the task was to maintain control over the territory of the former empire, while demonstrating how progressive the Marxist system was by satisfying requests for national sovereignty. There were two approaches to solving this problem.
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The proponent of the first was Stalin. The party considered him to be the main specialist in ethnic affairs due to his Georgian origin and a rather superficial work he wrote in 1913, entitled Marxism and the National Question. In this pamphlet, he pointed to a common language, territory, economy, and character as obligatory traits for defining a nation. On this basis, for example, ignoring 2,000 years of history, he claimed that the Jews were not an independent people, and their assimilation was an imminent and inevitable process.
In 1921, Stalin looked at the possibility of joining all the Socialist Republics to Russia while granting them broad autonomy. At the same time, distinctions were made between supposedly established, full-fledged nations and nationalities that could skip the national stage of historical development and move directly from a feudal system to a communist one without the formation of an intermediate national bourgeois state. This approach would further divide the former empire into Socialist Republics within the USSR, with the formation of autonomous regions within them. Thus, Stalin was already thinking in terms of the borders of the former Empire, leaning, in fact, to the idea of ‘peaceful coexistence’ of two systems – communist and capitalist – which he later realized.
Lenin and Trotsky thought quite differently. They believed to a much greater extent in the idea of a world revolution and were also guided by the economic theory of communism. According to it, agrarian Russia was insufficiently developed and did not have sufficient means of production (industry, science, communications) to build communism. A young country simply could not survive alone, opposing the entire bourgeois world, which was much more developed. They believed in the need for a permanent revolution that would be exported from Russia, with subsequent unification of the economies of communist countries. Given the revolutions taking place in Germany and northern Persia, as well as the popularity of leftist ideas there, all this seemed quite realistic.
Employing this supranational logic, Lenin proposed unifying the Transcaucasian republics into a single state on territorial principles. In addition, the presence of such a multinational federation among the founding countries of the USSR, which probably reminded the Bolsheviks of Switzerland, would emphasize the international status of the Soviet Union and hint at the possibility that other communist countries could voluntarily accede to it. And, since Lenin’s authority in the party was absolute, this was the position that prevailed.
FILE PHOTO. Soviet leaders Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin and Mikhail Kalinin in 1919. © API/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
However, this was probably his last clean victory. The federal treaty between socialist Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan was signed on March 12, 1922, but Lenin was to suffer his first stroke in May. The struggle for power that began afterwards was won by Stalin, and the federal character of the Soviet Union was already nominal in its 1936 constitution, which the national republics signed individually.
The disagreement on the issue of the federation of Transcaucasia clearly reveals a fundamental difference between the two heads of the USSR. For Lenin, the idea of building global communism was the primary goal, and Russia was only the means. Stalin was convinced that the most important thing was to retain power domestically, and ideas about a worldwide revolution could lead to its loss, and therefore was considered dangerous.
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A Failed Union
How could the idea of uniting three ethnically, linguistically, religiously, and culturally different peoples in one country have appeared at all? If you look from Tbilisi, Yerevan, and Baku, the idea seems preposterous. But they were being observed from Petrograd and Moscow. The fact is that if we look at the Russian Empire as a colonial power and compare it with Spain, England, or France, then Transcaucasia resembles a colony.
When Catherine the Great signed the Treaty of St. George on the annexation of Kartli-Kakheti by the Empire in 1784, there was no normal land connection with Transcaucasia. The Caucasian ridge between Russia and Georgia was as difficult a natural barrier to overcome as the Atlantic Ocean between Spain and Mexico. In addition to the high mountains and snow-swept passes in winter, there was also a serious threat of attack from the local highlanders, which was only quashed by a long and bloody series of wars that lasted for a good half of the 19th century.
The ethnically diverse population of Transcaucasia did not have full-fledged statehood at that time, and local customs took the place of the law. In terms of colonial trade and natural resources, these lands may not have been as interesting as the colonies of Western European countries. Nonetheless, they could serve as a springboard for further expansion into the rich neighboring territories of the Ottoman Empire and Persia, which were beginning to weaken.
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Accordingly, just as Spain paid little attention to the interests of the indigenous peoples of Mexico and Peru, Russia was primarily interested in convenience when it came to managing its ‘overseas’ territories. And since there were few real Russian colonists (most were military), the local population was content with the situation. Armenians, Azerbaijanis, and Georgians got along peacefully in Tbilisi and Baku. But as soon as the central government weakened, ethnic and religious conflicts began to flare up again, just as happened in India after the British left, for example.
The USSR’s social experiment with Transcaucasia was unique in that, thanks to the international ideology of communism, new colonies could develop on a par with the metropolises, and its citizens had the same rights, opportunities, and access to economic resources. After the Second World War, the Soviet Republics saw a rise in living standards and the construction of large infrastructure facilities. At the same time, interethnic conflicts seemed to have died out (although, as the collapse of the USSR showed, they were simply frozen), which made it possible for several generations to grow up with a sense of security.
Stalin, Sergo Ordzhonikidze, Anastas Mikoyan, and Lavrenty Beria were all born in peripheral colonies, but they ruled a huge metropolis by the 1930s. Little attention was paid to nationality in the USSR, and the privileges of hereditary elites did not exist. By comparison, the first non-Anglo-Saxon American president wouldn’t be elected until 1961 (the Irish Catholic John F. Kennedy), and the first baptized Catholic prime minister of the UK until 2019 (Boris Johnson).
And if we imagine that Lenin’s idea of a federal structure for Transcaucasia had not been buried by Stalin and that the post-Soviet leaders of such a federation would have had the political will to preserve unity, then who knows? Maybe today, instead of the constant threat of a war in Karabakh, there really would have been a Caucasian Switzerland – a serious regional power and an island of stability at the intersection of East and West. Or, of course, it could have imploded like Yugoslavia
By Anatoliy Brusnikin, Russian historian and journalist