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Zhirinovsky: Russian Fascism and the Making of a Dictator

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With the breakdown of the Soviet Union in a post Cold War era and the subsequent liberalization of the Russian economy, a precarious political situation has developed within Russia which may prove ripe for opportunists. One such opportunist is the ultra-nationalist maverick Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a man known for both his outlandish rhetoric, populist-nationalist outlook, and anti-Semitism. Zhirinovsky stands as head (vozhd') of the misnamed Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), an ultra-nationalist whose political stance remains a pile of contradictions. Zhirnovsky who is of Jewish ancestry (on his father's side) spews a virulently nationalist concoction of political ideology and remains staunchly anti-Zionist and anti-Jewish as well as anti-American. Zhirinovsky has called for the Russian annexation of Finland, the extension of the Russian border to the edge of Germany (meeting with German ultra-rightists) including the annexation of Poland, the annexation of the Kurile Islands from Japan, the return of Alaska to Russia, and in general the restoration of the original Russian borders of 1913. At the same time, Zhirinovsky has announced Russian solidarity with various Islamic extremists, the Iraq of Saddam Hussein, and the Serbian nationalist Slobodan Milosevich. Zhirinovsky's politics combine remnants from the conservative elements of the old Soviet bureaucracy as well as the Soviet military, Russian nationalists, European ultra-rightists, and various disaffected individuals within Russian society (including outcastes, the "Lumpen") who have been marginalized by the coming liberalization of the Russian economy. Perhaps Zhirinovsky's relationship to these people can be explained by his own position as social outcaste throughout most of his life. During his youth Zhirinovsky lived in extreme poverty, his mother having to remarry, and upon attending university where he studied Turkish language he was frequently in conflict with the Communist Party, where he was labelled a "political activist" and "psychologically disordered". Oddly, Zhirinovsky has enjoyed some success, including a widespread popularity and populist appeal, gaining leadership of the LDP, as well as coming in third behind Yeltsin and Ryzhnov in the general election. What is particularly disturbing for Americans is that Zhirinovsky would have access to the nuclear weapons arsenal of the former Soviet Union which he has promised to use. In addition, Zhirinovsky's relationship to the KGB remains problematic - while some have argued that he was labelled as an enemy by the KGB others believe that in fact he was an agent of this bureaucratic police force. Zhirinovsky's life has frequently been challenged and certain individuals have called for his assassination. However, as the authors of this book argue, should Zhirinovsky be assassinated certainly another (perhaps even more extreme than he) would rise to take his place. In the press, Zhirinovsky has been compared frequently to Hitler and been called a "fascist" (a term virtually without meaning given its chronic abuse); however, he has successfully sued those who use this epithet to describe him, despite his stated admiration for certain parts of Hitler's regime. At times Zhirinovsky has resorted to racialist doctrines (popular among the right wing of his own LDP party), including his proclamation that only blonde haired and blue eyed Russians would appear on national television. Zhirinovsky remains a difficult figure to understand, representing perhaps a red-brown alliance within Russian politics. However, among the radical right and Russian ultra-nationalists Zhirinovsky's rhetoric remains relatively mild, as compared for example to that of certain individuals within Pamyat (meaning "memory") or others who call for outright pogroms. Indeed, most of those on the radical right regard Zhirinovsky as a Zionist agent, especially given his Jewish background which he has frequently tried to cover up. The authors state that perhaps only the anti-Semitism native to the Russian people will prevent Zhirinovsky from gaining power. This book provides an interesting review of Zhirinovsky's life and politics although at times it may appear overly alarmist.

For further reading on the Russian radical right: _The Black Hundreds_ by Walter Laqueur.

The authors detail the rise of LDP candidate Vladmir Zhirinovsky and the fascist movement he heads. The authors detail the rise of this lawyer through the Russian publishing company MIR and his proposed contacts with the KGB. They also explore Zhirinovsky's Jewishness and his early life in the Kazazh capital.

Zhirinovsky does represent a frightening aspect in the Russian political landscape. His proposed nationalist focus would roll the boundaries of Russia back two centuries with the inclusion of Finland, Poland, and Alaska. Even though Zhironovsky is half Russian/half Jewish, he would force the Russian element in the forefront of leadership in the near abroad. He would have Russian soldiers washing their boots in the Persian Gulf/Indian Ocean.

The authors focus one chapter on Zhir's outrageous comments and his buffonery. This is a man wanting attention, and he is ready to say anything to get this. If he ever attains power, he would be a dangerous man. The authors detail that the LDP is just a instrument in Zhirinovsky's plans to attain the leadership of the Russian Federation.

This a book about a scary man. One may quibble that Putin is not a democrat, but this man is just so much worse. He is the scary face of Russian nationalism.

_Zhirinovsky: Russian Fascism and the Making of a Dictator_ is an interesting account of a radical politician who emerged with a popular mass following during the collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union. Zhirinovsky's platform was to make Russia into a renewed super-power and with its pre-1917 borders, even including Alaska. He also promoted a strong, totalitarian government and used mass appeals to the base instincts of the people, offering cheaper products and comparing former Soviet regimes to sexual problems (Lenin raping Russia, Stalinist homosexual jealousy and Kruschev's self-satisfied masturbation). Zhirinovsky appealed to nationalist elements in the Russian population who were upset by Russia's loss of prestige on the international scene, the Russians living in the former Soviet Republics and by rampant inflation and economic distress. He tries to cultivate an image of himself as a powerful father figure governing the "Liberal Democratic Party" who will look out for Russia's best interest if everyone submits to his rule. A number of his statements were openly anti-Jewish, blaming them for Russia's troubles and playing on fears that Russia will be taken over by Western capitalist interests. The authors, Solovyov (Jewish) and his wife Klepikova (Russian), have written a considerable amount of books on Russia and have lived in exile in New York since the 1970s. What is interesting is that Zhirinovsky, despite his far-right posturing, is of Jewish extraction. His father was Wolf Edelstein, a Polish Jew, while his mother was a Russian woman whose last name he adopted, Zhirinovsky. It is apparent that "Zhirinovsky" has been on the payroll of the KGB who used him for various spying missions (unsuccessfully) in Turkey. He was also given an invitation to immigrate to Israel because of his Jewish heritage. The authors note that Zhirinovsky is basically an actor who may not even believe what he preaches to the masses: a Russian revival. He does not have any connection to the Orthodox Church or any other of the elements of traditional Russian culture, but rather a "cosmopolitan." Hopefully a true nationalist movement will arise in Russia or elsewhere, but not one like "Mad Vlad's" threatening to dump nuclear waste on Estonia, causing more trouble and dissention than he is trying to solve. In all, an interesting book on a strange character in Russia, but with some odd digressions into psychoanalysis.

This book describes the sudden ascendancy of the Russian `Fascist' Vladimir Zhironovsky. This Russian leader emerged after the fall of gorbachev and his star rose quickly. In subsequent Duma elections his right wing nationalistic party gained a good following and many in the west feared that Russia would become a right wing reactionary state. But Zhironovsky's brand of politics quickly faded and this books outdated analysis shows through. Zhironovsky was best known for a stunt in which he arrived at the Duma dressed in an army uniform, conjuring up images of Hitler, Mussulini and Franco who had done the same. Yet other scandals followed as Zhirinovsky's ties to Saddam Hussien came to light and his denial of his Jewish heritage also hurt him among his many anti-Semitic followers. In the end Zhirinovsky is an interesting personae but he is not the rising hobgoblin portrayed in this book.