OF THE
TIMES
"How could this happen?Further reading:
The answer is that a few generations' worth of 'good times' results in the above described societal deficits regarding psychological skills and moral criticism. Long periods of preoccupation with the self and 'accumulating benefits' for the self, diminish the ability to accurately read the environment and other people. But the situation is more serious than just a generalized weakness of a society that could be 'toughened up' with a little 'hard times'.
Lobaczewski writes:The psychological features of each such crisis are unique to the culture and the time, but one common denominator that exists at the beginning of all such 'bad times' is an exacerbation of society's hysterical condition. The emotionalism dominating in individual, collective, and political life, combined with the subconscious selection and substitution of data in reasoning, lead to individual and national egotism. The mania for taking offense at the drop of a hat provokes constant retaliation, taking advantage of hyperirritability and hypocriticality on the part of others. It is this feature, this hystericization of society, that enables pathological plotters, snake charmers, and other primitive deviants to act as essential factors in the processes of the origination of evil on a macro-social scale."
Comment: The timing of Russia's decision coincides with India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing his country's new foreign policy. Although India's Congress party, which ruled most part of post-independent India, looked to the West for financial investment and trade, it maintained a cosy relationship with Russia.