I refuse to be part of an effort to legitimize an alternate narrative that the Ukrainian government is a U.S. adversary, and that Ukraine - not Russia - attacked us in 2016.
Everybody used to talk about Chechnya as a place, in the Russian imperial and Soviet periods, that was essentially governed by extended family and regional networks that substituted for older clan structures. But those networks have been destroyed.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on how family and community networks were crucial in Chechnya's history but have been disrupted over time.
Fiona Hill's quote highlights the significance of extended families and regional networks in Chechnya's governance throughout the Russian imperial and Soviet eras. These networks acted as informal systems of support and leadership, replacing traditional clan structures. However, she points out that such networks have been weakened or destroyed, suggesting a loss of community cohesion and support that once played a vital role in the region's social fabric.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the social structures in post-Soviet states, one could use this quote to illustrate the impact of familial networks.
More from Fiona Hill
All quotes →The Russians didn't invent partisan divides. The Russians haven't invented racism in the United States. But the Russians understand a lot of those divisions and they understand how to exploit them.
I grew up poor with a very distinctive working-class accent. In England in the 1980s and 1990s this would have impeded my professional advancement. This background has never set me back in America.
Because the more you engage with someone who is spreading untruths, the more validity you give to those untruths.
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