08:39 30-09-2025

Russia’s Political Resilience in Long-Term NATO Confrontation

© Фотоархив Ищенко Р.В.

Rostislav Ishchenko explains Russia’s political resilience, economic stability, and social risks in a long-term confrontation with NATO and the West.

Political analyst Rostislav Ishchenko reflected on how prepared Russian society is for a prolonged standoff with the West.

When asked whether Russia’s political system has the capacity to sustain the economy and public morale during years of confrontation with NATO and the West, Ishchenko stressed that the system is resilient, the economy stable and self-sufficient, and society largely consolidated.

At the same time, he noted that society is a living organism, prone to sudden and unpredictable swings in mood. Such shifts, he said, cannot be forecast in advance. Any military crisis inevitably fuels radical sentiments, rooted in the natural desire to eliminate the threat as quickly as possible. Politicians with a populist agenda are often tempted to exploit these emotions.

According to Ishchenko, when public moods, the media environment, and populist rhetoric overlap, they can generate a cumulative effect that rapidly transforms the social climate. This risk, he added, exists in every society. For that reason, he warned, it is important to treat radical declarations and initiatives with caution, since they may trigger unforeseen consequences. Sometimes, he explained, even a seemingly minor or harmless shift can provoke a sudden negative mass reaction, fundamentally altering public sentiment.

He concluded that Russia’s adversaries are actively searching for ways to influence society in precisely this manner. That is why, in his view, prudence and restraint in public statements and initiatives are never wasted.