Vladimir Medinsky: "A stable world requires several supports, just as a table needs several legs"
What an ideal world order should look like, how to create pedagogical training courses for participants of the special military operation, and whether more films about heroes on the frontline are needed – these were among the questions answered on 10 December at the National Centre RUSSIA by Vladimir Medinsky, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation and Chair of the Russian Military Historical Society. The business programme of the forum was organised by the Russian society Znanie.
At the beginning of his address, Vladimir Medinsky noted that in his youth he seriously aspired to a military career, just like his father. However, poor eyesight prevented this dream from materialising. According to him, he compensates for the unfulfilled military career through the study of military history and extensive educational work.
The Aide to the President delivered his remarks in a question-and-answer format. One of the questions concerned whether it would be possible to establish special pedagogical courses for participants of the special military operation, enabling them to work in schools. Vladimir Medinsky supported the idea and said he would raise the issue with the Ministry of Education.
"One does not need to graduate from a teacher-training institute to conduct one-off lessons on courage. But to work in a school on a permanent basis, one must have appropriate, at least additional, qualifications. We need to consider what form such training could take. In Soviet times, initial military training was usually taught by former officers. I am not certain that they had formal pedagogical education. Most likely, they had the type of courses you have in mind. And this allowed them to work in schools full-time. It is a good idea," said Vladimir Medinsky.
Another question addressed whether more films, books and plays should be created today about the heroism of participants of the special military operation.
"It is certainly necessary to speak more actively about the heroes on the frontline. We should, in general, learn how to do this as we once did during the Great Patriotic War. Back then, people knew how to tell these stories, how to create legends. I believe that more can and should be done in this regard. You are right," agreed Vladimir Medinsky.
He added that many members of the Union of Writers of Russia have served, or are currently serving, in the combat zone. As an example, he mentioned that he had recently presented the Order of Courage to the mother of a heroic writer who had volunteered to go to the frontline. Speaking about films depicting the heroism of military personnel, Vladimir Medinsky noted that such works do exist – both documentaries and feature films.
"I believe some of you have probably seen them. For instance, there is the film about the Donbas battalion advancing into Mariupol, shot in a single continuous take, with people literally being killed only ten metres away. Watching the film crew at work while the clearance of residential buildings is underway sends chills down one’s spine," he said.
One of the most engaging questions concerned his view of the ideal world order and Russia’s place within it.
"As a historian, I can point to two examples of world order. In the nineteenth century, Europe experienced around forty years without war. This was due to the situation being stabilised by two superpowers – the Russian and British empires. The second example is the Yalta–Potsdam agreements. Owing to these arrangements and the several centres of influence that supported them, peace was maintained on the continent. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, this system faltered and was eventually rejected de facto. The result was a major war. So the world order is either maintained by a single state capable of smoothing out conflicts or it is multipolar. A table can, of course, balance on one leg, but for stability it is better to have several. Only then does it become a more or less durable construction," said Vladimir Medinsky.
Vladimir Medinsky’s address was part of the business programme of the first day of the "Together We Will Prevail" forum for veterans of the special military operation. The organisers of the forum are the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation, the Russian society Znanie, the Association of Veterans of the Special Military Operation and the Committee of Families of the Fatherland’s Warriors.
