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Text/Editor/Dayu said Begonia
In discussing the confusion of the leaders of the Russian Communist Party, a striking question arises: Why do China's friends still deeply regret the collapse of the Soviet Union? In the long course of history, the collapse of the Soviet Union not only marked the end of an era, but also had a profound impact on the global political landscape. China's attitude and reaction to this not only reflect its sentiments towards the communist alliance of the past, but also imply deep reflection on the current and future direction of international politics. But what is the reason why China has been obsessed with a country that has long ceased to exist?
In the context of globalization, the influence of public opinion in the West is increasing, and one of the obvious phenomena is the reinterpretation of history. Especially with regard to the history of the Soviet Union, the once formidable superpower, which now seems to be gradually being faded or even erased from the collective memory of the world. In many Western historical narratives, the turning point of World War II is often portrayed as the Normandy landings, ignoring the crucial role of the Battle of Stalingrad. This difference in historical interpretation is not only reflected in Western countries, but even in Confucianism in Eastern cultures.
Surprisingly, this vague perception of history has even affected Russia itself. In contemporary Russia, many people have little understanding of the glorious history of the Soviet Union and the decisive role of the Soviet Union in World War II. Against this background, China's deep memory of the history of the USSR is particularly prominent. Many Chinese netizens retain a deep sense of affection and nostalgia for the "lost Soviet Union", which contrasts sharply with the prevailing attitudes in other parts of the globe.
When discussing this phenomenon, the leaders of the Russian Communist Party half-jokingly asked why only Chinese friends seemed to feel deep regret and emotion about the collapse of the Soviet Union. This confusion reflects a deep-seated cultural and historical phenomenon. China's memory and affection for the Soviet Union stems both from a deep understanding of historical events and from the complex "hostile and friendly" relations between the two countries.
In analysing this phenomenon, we must take into account the interweaving of factors. On the one hand, the Chinese have a deeper tradition of paying attention to history and summing up, which makes them have a more lasting and profound memory of past events. On the other hand, the historical relationship between China and the Soviet Union, from the initial close alliance to the later differences, has deeply affected the feelings and memories of the Soviet Union among the Chinese. In addition, people's understanding of history has evolved and changed over time, and this dynamic view of history is also an important lens for understanding this phenomenon.
The ancient Chinese worldview was centered on "Tianxia", a concept deeply rooted in Chinese culture and history. In this concept, the world is seen as a whole without clear national boundaries, gradually spreading outward from the center to form different levels. The central level, the "Kinai", was the place where the emperor was, and as the embodiment and model of morality, the emperor was considered to have a natural holiness in his words and deeds. The outermost layer, known as the "Land of the Outer Transformation", is an area untouched by Chinese civilization and is usually inhabited by ethnic groups called barbarians. In this worldview, barbarians are not conquered by force, but by the moral influence of the emperor.
This concept of moral influence at its core has not only shaped the way China interacts with foreign countries, but has also profoundly influenced the way Chinese view history. In China, the original purpose of recording history was to record the words and deeds of the emperor as a moral and political guide. Therefore, the role of historians was very important, as they were responsible for recording the emperor's every move, and these accounts were considered valuable materials for imparting moral and political wisdom to future generations.
Russia's approach to history, by contrast, is markedly different. The Russian view of history focuses more on the power and territorial expansion of the state, emphasizing national strength and national glory. In Russia's historical narratives, conquests and territorial expansion are often seen as signs of national strength. This way of understanding history is in stark contrast to the ancient Chinese "view of the world". In the Russian view of history, important historical events are often associated with the strategic decisions and military victories of the country's leaders, rather than emphasizing moral and cultural influence, as in China.
These two distinct views of history not only reflect the profound differences between the two cultures, but also affect the understanding and values of the two peoples' understanding of history. China's view of history focuses on the inheritance of morality and culture, while Russia's view of history focuses more on the power and territorial expansion of the state. This difference is reflected in the education, culture, and foreign policies of the two countries, and is an important lens for understanding the history of Sino-Russian interactions. By comparing these two views of history, we can gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which different cultures view history and how these ideas affect a country's political and cultural development.
Russians often take a resolute attitude towards the past, believing that the past is irretrievable and therefore not worth dwelling on. This attitude was especially pronounced after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Mikhail Kalashnikov, a well-known gunsmith, once expressed his confusion about his Chinese friends as to why they were so obsessed with the past and regretted things that were gone. Kalashnikov's views may be representative of the attitude of many Russians towards history.
The poll data also reflects the pervasiveness of this attitude, with young Russians less aware of and less interested in the history of World War II than middle-aged and older people. Although Russians are known for their love of reading, the percentage of people who read history books is relatively low. This may explain why the Russians have not yet fully emerged from the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The Chinese have a positive attitude towards history. They believe that history is a mirror of human progress, and that through the study of history, lessons can be learned and mistakes can be avoided repeatedly. History is also seen as an important part of national and national identity. Through an in-depth understanding of history, people can better understand their cultural traditions and build a sense of pride and self-confidence.
The attitudes of Russians and Chinese towards history reflect the different cultural and social backgrounds of the two countries. This difference not only affects the historical perception of individuals, but also affects the identity of countries and nations. History is a complex and multifaceted subject that carries important information about cultures, traditions, and values, and is of great significance for understanding the differences between different countries and cultures.
Only 30 years have passed since the collapse of the Soviet Union, but it is not an exaggeration to say that among young Russians, the understanding of this glorious history is gradually diluting. Russian state television conducted a survey to find out how much the younger generation knows about the history of World War II and the development of the Soviet Union. The results are shocking, and many young people are almost ignorant of these historical events.
This dilution of history may be partly due to the influence of the Western media, which tend to present a different historical narrative, focusing on the negative aspects of the Soviet Union and ignoring its great achievements. At the same time, China's attitude towards history is very different from that of Russia, which continues to attach importance to the influence of the Soviet Union on its development and maintains a certain regret over the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The Soviet Union had a profound impact on China. In the early years of the founding of the People's Republic of China, China's policies largely followed the Soviet model, including the implementation of the "Five-Year Plan" and the formulation of ethnic policies. Therefore, it is difficult to deny that China was under the influence of the Soviet Union for a long time.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, both the official media and experts in various fields analyzed the reasons for its sudden collapse from different angles. The complexity and impact of this historical event goes far beyond that moment 30 years ago. Although younger generations don't know much about it, the study and understanding of global history is still crucial to help us better understand the past and provide valuable lessons for future developments.
In the 60s and 70s of the 20th century, relations between China and the USSR were extremely tense, and one could even say hostile. When the once-arrogant superpower collapsed, the complex and contradictory relationship between the two countries resurfaced.
Regardless of the perception of the Soviet Union at the time, the fact is that almost all Chinese families agree that the Soviet Union once helped China enormously.
Before the New Culture Movement, Chinese society was in a period of chaos and confusion. The October Revolution and the spread of Marxism-Leninism gave new hope to a group of idealistic young people in China. These young people became the founders and leaders of the Communist Party of China, and the Communist Party of China was born.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Soviet Union continued to provide important support to China. In the Korean War, although the Soviet Union was not directly involved, they provided large quantities of weapons, ammunition and air support, which played a crucial role in the defeat of the United Nations forces by the volunteers. The Soviet Union also helped China build a huge industrial system in the 50s of the 20th century, which provided a solid foundation for China's industrialization process.
These historical facts reflect the complexity of Sino-Soviet relations, and although there were periods of hostility between the two countries, there is also a profound history of friendship and cooperation. This period had a profound impact on China's development and, to a certain extent, shaped the face of today's China.
We must draw lessons and experiences from history in order to meet current and future difficulties and challenges. Nor can we dwell on excessive nostalgia for history or some kind of regret. Instead, we should keep our eyes open and look ahead.
History should be approached with an objective and balanced mindset. History is a complex labyrinth of experiences and profound lessons. We should not simply regard history as an emotional sustenance, but should explore the true meaning of history with sober thinking and rational analysis.
History teaches us many important lessons about human behavior and decision-making, but it is also a process of constant evolution. We must understand that the lessons of history may not necessarily be directly applicable to today's contexts, because times and circumstances are constantly changing.
Our attitude should be one that respects history while remaining flexible in response to new challenges and opportunities. Only then can we truly understand the value of history and apply it to our lives now and in the future. History is our teacher, but we must also play the role of a good student, constantly learning and Xi and growing.