Geopolitics
The study of how factors such as geography, economics, military capability and non-State actors affects the foreign policy of states.
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My own knowledge is limited to statements by public intellectuals and policy-makers, think-tank heads that are printed in places like RT. We disagree, that's fine and I have no right to demand of you things I myself have not furnished.
I don't have the energy to quote reply you back but needless to say I (still) have my view. Russians are no smarter or "stupider" than any other capitalists I think, liberalism, capitalism is a kind of blinders, some see more, some see less. Whether those people who see more have and retain power and clarity is another matter. Russia's eyes have been forced open a bit by Ukraine but how far it seems impossible to say given the often contradictory nature of public statements and the need to be coy for negotiations.
I was strongly influenced by this highly upvoted comment: https://lemmygrad.ml/comment/6061085
Saying their actions now in the heat of the Ukraine moment show a sustained change I think are premature. That's like saying a child who burned their fingers once and is now staying away from the stove has learned once and for all, maybe, then again maybe not, they could have to learn again several times as maybe this time the flame got them but they still haven't learned to respect not touching the hot iron griddles. Let us see where things go once peace is won in Ukraine.
So I'm not proposing anything too fantastical. Nothing that isn't drawing on historical precedent.
I have strong critical support for Russia but it is critical. And I wish others to be critical and not think too highly of the imposter that stands in the place of the USSR who for only mercenary motives is at times on our side. It's not the time to tar and feather them in front of liberals of course. But I wonder, and I worry.
As always optimism of the will, pessimism of the intellect.
One thing that's worth pointing out is that Russia is at a different stage of capitalist development from the west. Russian capitalism is still largely industrial in nature. It's a very different beast from the western financialized system. Thus, the interests of Russian capitalists should be understood in their own material context and the stage of development of Russia. The system is closer to the way capitalism operated in Europe at the start of the 20th century with domestic capitalism coupled with state power.
I very much agree that the support for Russia has to be critical given that it is ultimately a capitalist state. At the same time, it is important to have a good understanding of how the system in Russia actually works to make predictions regarding of what we can expect to happen. The key point I want to highlight in that regard is that there is much more capacity in Russia for doing long term strategic planning than there is in the west. Ukraine is actually proof of that because Russia started preparing for the war all the way back in 2008, and it's the ability to carry out sustained policy over decades that allowed Russia to defeat the west in Ukraine. Similarly, I expect that Russia will take a long term strategic view in regards to its relations with the west and China.