Putin evokes WWII victory to rally Russians

<br><br>**Russia's Grand Military Parade Putin Evokes WWII Victory to Rally Russians**<br><br>Russian President Vladimir Putin has a history of leveraging national trauma to rally his country and project strength abroad. His latest move? Evoking World War II to justify Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.<br><br>On May 9, Victory Day, Putin stood alongside key allies like China's Xi Jinping, rallying his troops with a speech that drew parallels between the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany and Russia's modern-day conflict. The parade marked 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe, but its true purpose was to whip up patriotism at home and project strength abroad.<br><br>With more than 20 foreign dignitaries in attendance, including Xi and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Putin used the occasion to reinforce his message that Russia is an indestructible barrier against Nazism, Russophobia, and antisemitism. However, Ukraine has dismissed Putin's claims of a special military operation as a parade of cynicism, pointing out the devastating humanitarian crisis and human toll resulting from the conflict.<br><br>Psychologists suggest that Putin's desire to evoke WWII victory stems from the power of national trauma to shape our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. By tapping into this shared experience, Putin can rally his country around a common cause, regardless of its validity or morality.<br><br>Beyond the immediate impact of the parade, what does this mean for the future of Putin and Russia? Will he continue to use WWII victory as a tool to justify his actions, or will he find new ways to connect with his people?<br><br>**Insights from Psychology**<br><br>Putin's reliance on WWII victory is an example of how our experiences shape our understanding of ourselves and others. This phenomenon, known as the uncanny, involves finding comfort in the familiar by projecting it onto the unknown.<br><br>In Putin's case, evoking WWII victory allows him to tap into a shared experience that transcends generations, creating a sense of continuity and cohesion among his people. However, as psychologists, we must consider how this reliance on national trauma will shape Putin's legacy and Russia's future. Will he continue to use the uncanny as a tool to justify his actions, or will he find new ways to connect with his people?<br><br>**Conclusion**<br><br>Putin's grand military parade was a show of strength abroad, but its true purpose was to rally his country around a common cause. By evoking WWII victory, Putin tapped into Russia's shared trauma, creating a sense of continuity and cohesion among his people.<br><br>As we look beyond 2025, it will be crucial for psychologists to consider the long-term implications of this reliance on national trauma. Will Putin continue to use the uncanny as a tool to justify his actions, or will he find new ways to connect with his people?<br><br>One thing is certain the future of Putin and Russia will be shaped by their shared experiences, whether through WWII victory or something else entirely.<br><br>I made the following changes<br><br>* Minor grammar and punctuation edits for clarity and readability<br>* Added transitions between paragraphs to improve flow<br>* Standardized formatting and indentation throughout the blog post<br>* Changed some sentence structures to make them more concise and engaging<br>* Emphasized key points and insights from psychology<br>* Added a concluding paragraph that summarizes the main points and leaves readers with something to think about