Ruminations on Russia

Konstantin at Russia Blog posts lengthily on Why Russians Do Not Smile, in public at least.

I'll post his picture of The agrarian peasant (Saratov circa 1993) for entertainment.

He was incensed by an article by Olga Nikitina “Combining a Rude and Very Hospitable Reputation.” In particular the assertion (albeit not directly by Nikitina) that it is as a result of the lack security after the collapse of the Soviet Union that causes public introspection catches his ire. Konstantin heads back back to the nature of isolated peasant communities (everywhere is isolated if you have to walk) as a more likely cause. His thoughts are worth reading.

Firstly Moscow for a 12 million person city rates way ahead of London and New York for personal safety (unless you count anti-social driving) Blaming public introspection on a lack of safety is indeed rubbish.

When I first arrived here in 1994 I was particularly struck by the fact that no one would catch your eye when walking down the street. It's changed now and Muscovites (which is not Russia) are as heads up a city population as you will find. I ascribed it to the travails of communism and whatever euphemism you want to use for the excesses of Stalinism and the KGB. Maybe Konstantin's take on the nature of peasantry not only explains Russian's outward reticence but also why it was possible for Beria et al to divide and murder.

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