Russia's War Against Ukraine
OP-ED
Alexander J. Motyl: Contradictions define Kremlin apologists
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (back 5th R) chairs a meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, on July 3, 2014. Putin has called today for more patriotic education for his country's youth in order to protect them from foreign influences in what he views as a global ideological battle. In an ongoing standoff with the West over Ukraine, the Kremlin is pursuing an increasingly isolationist cultural policy. AFP PHOTO/ RIA-NOVOSTI/ POOL / ALEXEI NIKOLSKY
According to the conventional wisdom, Vladimir Putin and his Western supporters propagate a uniform message throughout the world. At its most extreme, this view sees Russia as having a formidable propaganda machine that is running roughshod over the Western media and public.
