Navalny

No one gets famous by accident. If Alexey Navalny rose as the unalternative leader of Russian opposition, recognised as such both in Moscow and in DC, this indicates he had something that others lacked. Today we will discuss what it was and why it did not suffice.

Let's start with the public image. What was so special about the (mature state of) navalny is that his public image represented normality. And by normality I mean first and foremost the American, Hollywood normality.

Look at this photo. He represents himself as American politicians do.

For Russia, however, this is extremely unusual.

For an American politician, it is very important to present himself as a good family man (or woman). Exceptions do only corroborate the rule. Notice how McCain defends Barack Obama

"No, he's a decent family man, citizen"

In America one thing is tied with another

I am making a special focus on the political significance of family, because it is unusual. It is a peculiar aspect of the American political culture, that most other cultures do not share (or at least not to the same extent)

Personal = political

There's no boundary in between

If American politicians must have a family, if they must show their family, if they must brand themselves as familymen and sell their familymanship in the course of an electoral campaign (while most politicians around the world don't have to), now there's a good reason for that.

Political origins of America are very peculiar, and different from those of Europe. Unlike most European states, America has never been a monarchy. As a result, it is less affected by the monarchic, and more by the theocratic institutions.

POTUS is not a King. He is a Presbyter

This is one singular reason why their family life (and sexual life) are of such immense political significance. US President is first and foremost a priest. A shepherd guiding his flock, a minister instructing his parish. He must serve as an example of Protestant purity.

Now to understand America, you must realise it is unusual. It is peculiar. It is like a National Covenant winning, and winning on a global scale. Once it has won a global hegemony, we tend to underestimate how unusual it is.