Why whataboutism and theory of relativity have always been dictators' favourite toys

For seasoned state leaders with authoritarian inclinations and a consistent track record for morally reprehensible behaviour, one of the best strategies when pushing back against those who dare question their integrity (e.g. media, governments, international bodies) is that of successfully diluting the gravity of their misdeeds (and crimes) in the eyes of the general public.

A matter of (22 years of) practice

They usually do it by juxtaposing their (alleged or blatant) crimes with what is meant to look like comparable or even worse behaviour that can be attributed to "the other side". And when it comes to manipulating the public perception of how grave or trivial things should be seen as, Vladimir Putin might just be the single most competent and shrewd living player in this centuries-old game. Here's how it translates to the way many of us look at the war in Ukraine today.

Never confuse propaganda with patriotism

History has proved time and again that propaganda can be an extremely powerful weapon. As such, it doesn't need to resort to direct use of conventional weapons or means of intimidation, simply because it is happy to rely more on proverbial wisdom instead in order to achieve its key strategic goals (e.g. pen is mightier than sword or one picture is worth a thousand words).

Having said that, underestimating the history, the legacy (even) or the power of the Kreml propaganda would be a grave mistake to make. Of course, it's not only about a legacy of successfully narrowing down public access to the so-called free, independent media on his home turf (one of the many skills that Putin has honed over the past decades) but about compelling national-pride-boosting storytelling, personal image building and a polished talent for smart innuendoes when talking about the (alleged or factual) hypocrisy of the West, especially out of context.

Both sides of the equation! Really?

I started watching this fascinating Yale University talk with Vladimir Pozner long time ago, but didn't finish it back then. Recently, I watched it again, listening very carefully to each and every theory, opinion, hypothesis and audience question. I also dived much deeper into Pozner's unique background and perspective - in itself a very interesting mix of experiences and observations going back all the way to the cold war era and his various roles over the years, all of which gave him unique exposure to some of the most iconic events of the era.

If I were to give you a word of advice before watching this talk it would be this: pay special attention to all the messages and conclusions you are likely to arrive at when looking for meanings between the lines or logical gaps in the arguments presented, or the many factors and characteristics of his presentation style that make you instinctively trust him a little more than you normally would, under the circumstances. Watching this talk is a very interesting exercise in multi-layered content analysis (one of the best I can think of right now).

I went to Vladimir Pozner's Twitter account a number of times in the past few days and did a couple of searches on YouTube and Google to find out what his position is on what is happening in Ukraine now. To now avail. Given how vocal and outspoken he was on the subject in the past, it's probably fair to say that, at a time when his voice would actually matter, he appears to have gone completely quiet. How unsurprising.

The power of stereotypes

Pozner's perspective is so interesting largely because he's so unlike your Hollywood stereotype of a former Russian propagandist. Nor does he boast the looks, the accent, or the 'communication style' you'd instinctively expect. Finally, you really don't need to rewatch any of the Pierce Brosnan 007 portrayals to understand what I mean. It's more than enough if you watch and listen to something far more recent and context specific, like Maria Zakharova, Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman.

A few more recommendations

If you'd like to explore a little more context to the situation in Ukraine, you may want to watch this short summary of the past few decades by VOX, or this excellent, more in-depth perspective coming from a Polish vlogger.

Finally, now that you have added a little more background to the story, let's try and take a closer look at Putin's technique when confronting the media.

Whataboutism unplugged

YouTube is full of fascinating examples of 'Putin in action' videos, some of which make it much easier to understand his actual technique when trying to dominate his interlocutors in a conversation, for example. Take a look at this excerpt from an important debate, for example. As you watch it, pay special attention to his relaxed, dismissive manner when addressing serious accusations, his readiness to dilute his opponents' arguments.

Here's another short video, where a reporter asks Putin why his political opponents are ‘dead, in prison, or poisoned’. Watch him respond with classic whataboutism. The reason why he's so effective has to do with confidence and relaxed manner of addressing even the most serious of accusations, but also his well-trained ability to shift moods at will, i.e. being able to jump from a relaxed smile to deadly seriousness in a matter of seconds.

Crimes agains humanity are no longer a political game of chess!

Gary Kasparov has long been one of Putin's smartest and most insightful opponents. Just listen to his line of arguments in these two short interviews with TIMES Radio and Amanpour & Co.