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[wolfie-18.livejournal.com]

If this is too off topic, feel free to delete it, but how do people here feel about the youth group Nashi? I need some Russian opinions. The Slavic Studies American opinions are all "Wow, that's scary, almost like Nazism." 

Comments

[no-access.livejournal.com]

I have never heard this group. Is it russian?

[pzrk.livejournal.com]

Even here (in Russia) they were called "Putinjugend" (c: "Hitlerjugend").
Young people with propaganda-washed brains.

[icamel.livejournal.com]

Not only. Many of them just cynically use career opportunities and/or minor compensation

[evermore-spb.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it is.

[khathi.livejournal.com]

Well, that's just some youths that hope to make a career in politics by ultra-loyalist antics. Initially, as far as I know, they were created as a some sort of polytical infantry to counter the perceived threat of "colored revolution" -- the stuff that happened in Serbia, Ukraine, Georgia and so on -- in a way that doesn't dirty government hands like it happened in, say, Uzbekistan. Government found it somewhat useful to have some loyal youth organisation, but in general as the threat diminished, their usefullness also is on the vane, so many analysts say that they will be disbanded soon: there were rumors about this happening in March, but is hasn't happened yet.

Also, don't listen to those comparing them with nazis. Nazis (at least core members) were really believing in that crap that was their doctrine. Nashi is in the business purely for career's sake -- they don't care about ideology at all. Well, maybe except some patriotic rhetoric, as most of the people in Russia find liberals' view self-accusing up to the point of outright russophobia, so they don't buy it and go for something more adequate. But baring this, they are just trying to make connections and some money.

[mr-uef.livejournal.com]

"they were called"...
by whom? it would help if you identified your circle of communication.

Generally, I tend to agree with Khathi: mostly harmless, even if career-oriented somewhat and somewhat scary owing to pro-Western propaganda.
And definitely they do not bear hatred ideology like Hitlerjugend.

[silence2night.livejournal.com]

Haven't heard about them in a while.

Just a bunch of kids who like to hang out on Seliger lake, pretend like they matter and feel proud about that. Some of them are smart and use this as a chance to get a good job and make necessary connections. Others are just annoying and pathetic in their desperate willing to show how grown-up and serious they are.

Not sure about what is Slavic Studies American, but their opinion is pretty funny. Do they suspect that Scout camps are secret schools for terrorists, by any chance? A lot of overreacting about nothing.

[freedomcry.livejournal.com]

I second this entirely.

[khathi.livejournal.com]

I tend to see this word quite often, but it's usually just a sarcastic moniker, mocking their (visibly fake) fervor.

[v-drug.livejournal.com]

That is not nazism... that is nashism :/

[notnormalgovie.livejournal.com]

If you look at their political activity, I wouldn't say that your description of them is apt at all. While most of them may not care about the ideology of the group, there is a core group that is quite hardcore about it. The problems that they are causing within Russia with their "protests" should not be overlooked. Hopefully they fade from view now that Putin is "just" PM.

[khathi.livejournal.com]

I did. Several times, actually. Just to be amused by its utter stupidity and bizarreness. And as for bad rap they're "causing", I believe that the point is moot, as the West is doing much better job at scaring itself by Russia than any bunch of kids could ever do.

[usdcad.livejournal.com]

brainless scum

[pinky-the-cow.livejournal.com]

I really dislike them.

First, their philosophy. To cut a long story short, they are self-proclaimed patriots. Patriotism being a strongly demagogical category, that is not a sufficient definition. Their "patriotism" revolves around the idea of all-around-approval of our, russian, authorities' (read: the president) actions.

The reasoning is a populistic one, at best. Russia is, like, surrounded by enemies. Those enemies are bent on destroying, capturing, dividing our beloved beryozkas Motherland.
And, seeing as our country finally stands up from kneeling position (An expression tremendously often used throughout the Putin governing period for all sorts of speeches: "Россия поднимается с колен". So often, it's a joking stock for critics), the current leaders are the greatest possible, our vital (read: only) chance to make a comeback.
And "NAShI" are the great patriots, who see the truth and do their best to help russian leaders to achieve great goals. Oh, and there's also a promise to inherit great (Promised?) Russia somewhere.

I am typing and shuddering at the same time... >_< It's so, um,.. idiotic? self-contradicting?

Anyways, they are following the trend of that propaganda, which had long since occupied our mass media. Same logical constructions, aggresive rhetorics.
My personal large world picture sets them as some homunculi structure, or frankenstein type. If it's democracy, if it's a civil society, shouldn't there be a motivator like something quite the opposite of the dancing to the powers' flute? They're an artificial, specially maintained and supported by the authorities group. It seems that money for their projects is extorted from the large buisnessmen by the administrative resource. Same resources are activated, when "NAShI" holds some massive meeting, buses collecting some pretty-much-forced audience from universities, for instance.

The heritage mentioned earlier, I would agree with statements of the above commenters, has to do with more of the cushy government jobs more than with the well-developed and prospering country.

The level of scepticism and disdain towards "NAShI" seems high to me. Although, most of that is due to large amount of people overall disillusioned about politics (and having little to none understanding of it).

The way our powers rely on such frankensteins is a clear signal that things are bad for democracy and/or our future. The situation is just grim. Human rights, independent courts, free mass-media — forget all of that. Do cower in your corner, live a life of a simple consumerist and pray that some big guy doesn't take interest in you. Those who don't agree are enemies. Those who are good at adapting may try to worm into the corrupted system and feast on their own piece of some distributive pie.

Heh. Three guesses on whether I am a proponent to Putin company. ~_~

[pinky-the-cow.livejournal.com]

It's a political movement, not music band. :)

[true-kir.livejournal.com]

All commentarys above (except mr_uef)are surely written by so-called russian "liberasts", immigrants from Russia or foreign people who never been to Russia. Hell, they're swarming here like bees over honey (or flies over less attractive substance). Putin - dictator, no free mass-media, no human rights, gulags, bears walk the streets, bla-bla-bla. This poll is just like last one - about 3 words characterizing modern Russia. I haven't seen a single positive comment there - only words describing Russia as ugliest, eviliest country in a world. Talk about brainwashing and propaganda. Some americans read finest example of coldwar-style propaganda in WSJ or WP, and start to make stupid statements in this LJ community.

Nashi - is a pro-governmental youth group, sponsored by businessmen, who are loyal to current government course. Thats all. There's many youth groups in Russia - radical communists, youth wing of USA-paid "Another Russia", anarchists, monarchists, etc.
Nashi are simply more well-known to public due their regular appearances in mass-media. They arent' some kind of Nazi-like maniacs. They have no such ideology. Many young people see Nashi as a preliminary step to join state bureaucracy (since it's mostly consist of Edinaya Rossiya members, and joining ER after being a member of Nashi is a natural choice)and as a good start for career. And their training in Seliger camp is more like "corporate spirit" training, not some kind of "sieg heil" brainwashing.

Most people i know have neytral attitude toward Nashi. But there's a small part of my acquaintances circle that has negative attitude towards Nashi, since it reminds them
komsomol of old soviet days.

Personally i prefer Nashi over Zuganov's Komsomol and Kasparov's "Another Russia". They're not holy angels, but also they're not true ideological maniacs dreaming of returning to old days like communists, nor they are 5th column which is paid by US funds like Kasparov's jerks.

P.S.
Sorry for my bad English.