American Journalist Goes To Russia And Discusses Donald Trump And Democracy With Ordinary Russians

Ksenia Anske emigrated from Russia to the US in 1998 - she spoke no English, but she was tired of living in the bleak, cynical mood that seemed omnipresent there. This January, she went back to Moscow, and as it was just after the inauguration of Donald Trump. All the conversations eventually slipped towards American politics.

The most striking part of this collection is the overall defeatism of all the people the author talked to. There is no hope for change, personal opinions do not count, politicians are nothing but puppets in the hands of business moguls. If you want a normal life, keep quiet and don't protest – this kind of attitude is familiar to everyone who grew up in Russia.

While I cannot argue with Anske's description, I would like to add some depth to the gloomy landscape she has painted. There are, of course, people who are not this cynical – I have the privilege of knowing some of those who have dedicated their lives to quality journalism, human rights advocacy, and hyperlocal politics. It is thanks to them that some political prisoners are freed, small towns still have functioning hospitals, and investigative journalism is not completely replaced by Kremlin press releases. But it requires a lot more effort to be outspoken if you live in a culture like that, where cynicism and apathy are to be expected.