NICK WRIGHT
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Think

26/2/2022

16 Comments

 

‘Truth is the first casualty of war, they say. In fact, it’s more often freedom and reason.’ (Brendan O’Neill)

I was wrong. I didn’t imagine that Russia would actually launch a full-scale assault on Ukraine. I felt sick, shocked and dismayed as the news unfolded this week. I can only imagine how it must feel for Ukrainians to find their country under attack and for Russians to discover their country has started a war. I felt near-despair too as I listened to rhetoric in the UK Parliament and media in the immediate wake of the invasion, denouncing neo-fascist Russian nationalism and imperialism whilst, at the same time, silencing any voices of dissent here with words like ‘appeasement’ and ‘treason’.

There are insights from various psychological fields that can help us, yet we know from arenas such as cognitive and human givens therapies that our receptivity and ability to reason is impacted profoundly when overwhelmed by feeling. Emotions like anger, resentment and fear are running high at the moment; and understandably so because this crisis and all that it could mean are very real and being experienced by real people, families and communities here-and-now – and that makes it hard to think clearly. Yet we must think, and pray, and act with wisdom, and quickly.

I can only guess what’s in Putin’s mind. The geopolitical dimensions to this conflict are complex and well beyond my ability to know or understand. I can, however, speak as a citizen or the West. I spent many years working closely with an anti-Nazi activist in Germany. I learned that we need to pay very careful attention to the conditions in which otherwise insane decisions will appear and feel rational. Hitler and the Nazis were supported and elected in Germany by many with great enthusiasm against a specific contextual backdrop: in Gestalt psychology, the ‘ground’ that gives rise to a ‘figure’.

The ’ground’ out of which the current crisis has developed is very complex indeed. It includes: a long cultural history in Russia of autocratic leadership; the brutal and devastating Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union from (geographically) the West; a loss of Russian power and self-esteem following the collapse of the Soviet Union; the subsequent expansion of the NATO military alliance eastwards towards Russia’s borders; the expansion of the EU economic block eastwards to (potentially) incorporate Ukraine; a corresponding and growing sense of vulnerability and resentment in Russia.

Does this suggest that the West has somehow caused the war in Ukraine? No. Correlation of these factors does not mean causation. Putin has made his own decisions. Does it suggest that the West has contributed to creating the conditions under which Putin’s decision became more likely? That’s a question I believe, in the midst of our justifiable outrage at Russia’s unjustifiable actions, we would do well to consider with prayer, humility and critical reflexivity. We stand at the edge of a dangerous precipice and, to move forward, we need very different thinking to that which brought us here.
16 Comments
Thomas Hiller
26/2/2022 05:42:17 pm

Putin hat eine Intention, warum er genau jetzt genau das macht. Aber es gab einen Weg bis zu dieser Entscheidung. Wir müssen hinter die Waffen und Soldaten schauen, um zu versuchen, sein Handeln zu verstehen.

Reply
Nick Wright
26/2/2022 08:48:43 pm

Danke Thomas. Ja, tatsächlich. Wir haben wenig Möglichkeiten zu lernen oder zu beeinflussen, wenn wir nicht zuerst versuchen zuzuhören und zu verstehen. Das ist nicht immer einfach, besonders wenn unsere Emotionen hochkochen oder sich unsere eigenen Werte oder Interessen bedroht fühlen.

Reply
Anne McGuire AMInstLM
26/2/2022 08:36:59 pm

Agree.

Reply
Nick Wright
26/2/2022 08:57:00 pm

Thank you for responding, Anne. I'm aware it's a sensitive topic and, as I write on such themes, I often have a paraphrased version of Richard Bach's words from Illusions in the back of my mind: 'Everything in this blog may be wrong.'

Reply
Anne McGuire AMInstLM
26/2/2022 09:22:25 pm

It’s complicated.

Nick Wright
26/2/2022 09:22:57 pm

Yes, indeed.

Tara Parker link
26/2/2022 10:05:20 pm

Nick,

I'm glad to see these words and this perspective out there for the world to aborb. If all the same to you, I'd like to share this post on my social media.

Watching the news coverage leaves me feeling dread, devestation, and grief for a country I have no ties or understanding of. This isn't about knowing a country or feeling a sense of patriotism towards it. It's about humanity and the human rights we should all be able to rely upon. Putin has casted himself in a light that will be hard to escape for all time to come. His choices are reminders that the likes of Hitler and Stalin are not left behind in the history books. They live and breath today and put little value into what others think or feel. That is what makes them inhumane.

What I can say is that the attacked in Ukraine are not taking it laying down. While this could turn into a beautiful conservation on the power of the people I'll keep it concise by offering that when wrong is done in this world there is a space where all differences are left behind and the masses are driven by the same goal, which is to return the attack in kind to preserve life.

I hope the lesson learned is that even if you are the "David" up against "Goliath" size means little when the smaller opponent is driven by a desire to be treated humanely.

Reply
Nick Wright
27/2/2022 02:26:14 pm

Hi Tara and thank you for your encouraging feedback. Yes, do feel free to share on social media. I would be interested to hear of any responses. It's a complex and emotionally-charged issue and situation. I agree - there's something about this type of crisis that both resonates with and conflicts with deeply-held values. Let's hope and pray that peace and justice prevail rather than whomever, on the face of it, has the largest military power.

Reply
Arman
26/2/2022 11:21:17 pm

I always interested about your fair mindset.

If I think critically ,I should ask why east part of Ukraine want be independent?
I think injustice is one of the biggest reason that this kind of Crisis happened,but Russia is looking for Justice for this part of the Ukraine?
I don't think so!

In my opinion big powerful countries to try to split weak countries too small one and they can easily control them.
(one of the ridiculous things is that, Chechney's Muslim fight and help putin(comonist) to gain ominous goal at Ukraine)

In the other hand West's profits goes on around this crisis. They donate old storage weapons.At the same time they can aligned opinion of International Community against putin(and they succeeded)

On of the biggest question in my mind Is that why Humanity,after all amount of development in all fields cannot live without War?!
War reminds, the hunger child scared in the corner of shelter instead of playing and learning at schools.
War reminds, mother or wife looking after her son or husband come back home.
War reminds destroy all development,humanity and...

I desire the world that people give each other a bunch of flower instead of lead bullets!

Thanks Nick for this post. God bless you 🙏 💙

Reply
Nick Wright
27/2/2022 02:36:33 pm

Thank you, Arman - and God bless you too. Yes, flowers rather than bullets would create a far better world.

I agree that there are many different dimensions to this conflict, not least to consider who, behind the scenes, stands to benefit most from a war - e.g. arms manufacturers and distributors - and what hidden influence they have over any political decisions that are taken.

I found your final comments on 'war reminds' very moving. If we look at how geopolitical tensions are worked out on the ground, we see the faces and tears of real people - and especially of those who are poorest and most vulnerable and unable to flee conflict and its consequences.

Reply
Alex
1/3/2022 06:02:55 pm


Thanks Nick for these thought provoking reflections. I found myself trying to navigate to the distinction between explanations and justifications. For example, certain historical factors offered some explanation for the rise of Hitler’s National Socialism in Germany following the First World War, but they would never be considered as justification for what took place.
I find helpful the perspective of Personal Constructivism in this situation. The theory takes the view that ‘reality’ isn’t simply a human construction. Reality owes no allegiance to our construction of it. But our challenge is that we can only participate in reality through our idiosyncratic construction of it. There’s no question that Mr Putin has a particular construction of reality, not one widely shared, and not one that he seems willing to reconsider. At least not yet.
But in there’s always hope.
Thanks again Nick

Reply
Nick Wright
1/3/2022 07:16:43 pm

Thank you, Alex, for sharing such thoughtful reflections. Yes, I was pondering that same question this morning. If we were to say that explanation = justification, it would be to take a hard deterministic view, devoid of any moral-ethical dimension and agency.

I loved your comment: 'Reality owes no allegiance to our construction of it.' I struggle to imagine an idea of reality that isn't personally and-or culturally constructed. Perhaps that's what it means to, 'participate in reality through our idiosyncratic construction of it'?

Yes, Putin appears to be locked in a view of reality that is out of synch with most of the rest of the world, and perhaps with most people in Russia too. I worry that Western actions in response to his aggression will simply harden - by appearing to confirm - his view. I pray for hope.

Reply
Ian
4/3/2022 02:38:43 pm

An insight article Mr Wright.
There are at least 2 sides to this, and I'm disturbed that we in "the west" don't seem to recognise any responsibility for our part in this.
Once again finding balance in the media is also proving difficult.

Reply
Nick Wright
4/3/2022 06:13:18 pm

Thank you, Ian. Yes, critical reflexivity is markedly notable by its absence in this terrible conflict. It requires humility, curiosity and courage. It’s easier to take a simplistic “I’m right - you’re wrong” stance, especially when temperatures are running high. It allows us to feel self-righteous and to project all blame onto the other. Jesus’ words in the Bible in Matthew 7:3-5 have particular geopolitical resonance here.

Reply
Pete
6/3/2022 03:21:13 pm

Your blog on Ukraine/Russia is balanced and thought provoking and courageous! It’s very hard to try to stand back and take a rational and unemotional perspective when such strong feelings are aroused by what is happening and the sense that we are in fact involved!
Amazing to see the amount of donated stuff filing a large van sited at The Riverside yesterday so that Boro fans could support the Ukrainians.

Reply
Nick Wright
6/3/2022 04:52:41 pm

Thank you, Pete. Yes, the geopolitical issues are far more complex than our politicians and media portray. Nevertheless, the human distress and suffering caused by the conflict is terrible. It has been great to see the outpouring of compassion for those affected and displaced - £89m so far via UK charities alone. 🙏

Reply



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