Russia and the fantasy of victimhood

Thirty years ago the Russian empire collapsed. It was at the very least, emotionally jarring in the early 1990’s. However, the opening of society and the inevitable improvement in the quality of life provided a cushion for the fall of Soviet communism. Now the pain of economic hardship has boosted the rise of Russian intolerance toward anything Western and the Kremlin has found a suitable self-identifier by assuming the role of hard-done-by victim.