Part 3
The external world usually brings both opportunities and threats. Our common task is to take advantage of the first and minimize the latter. The responsibility of the authorities, since they have administrative tools in hand, is to organize this.
Often, sharing these tools, along with responsibility, is a correct organizational step.
In previous parts, we considered the situation from opposing views – the optimist, summarized which factors bring Russia closer to the inability to continue the war, and the pessimist, listing instead the factors that give Russia hope for victory.
It is very telling that the optimistic view has so far received almost twice as many “likes” as the pessimistic one.
Traditionally for Ukrainians, the dominant emotion is hope. I hope that the “DO DNA” section, quite popular on this page, adds optimism to the audience.
But the realization of our aspirations and hopes greatly depends on actions here and now. Thus, the analysis of expectations from the year must end with this.
YEAR OF THE REALIST
Ukrainians have too often been convinced of our “inferiority.” Always being “guilty,” “wrong,” “second-rate,” habitually conceding, not believing in our own strength, looking for a better and wiser “teacher” or “patron,” if not “master” – a form too commonly imposed from outside. Primarily from Russia.
Traditional forms of self-defense – “a fig in the pocket,” “energy saving” as an economy of effort – instead of fully committing do not strengthen when it comes to striving for one’s own state.
But the mortal danger did awaken something else. Character and creativity. The ability to win in spite of and against the odds.
In 2014-2015, the Russians were thwarted with their plan for “Novorossiya” and the disintegration of Ukraine. A ceasefire was imposed in a situation where all the cards were in the Kremlin’s hands, as it has become fashionable to say now. And the foundation was built upon which resistance still relies today.
The current government has quite accurately sensed this mood. Moreover, it understands that it is not needed by the Kremlin. In the event of the “Kyiv in three days” scenario succeeding, there would have been some Yanukovych, Medvedchuk, or Derkach here.
But such an understanding is not enough for the authorities. Because the threats described in the “Year of the Pessimist” are too numerous and too serious to rely on “we’ll somehow manage,” “we are lucky,” and to work at a mediocre level (sometimes from a 5, not from a 12) when the scale of the challenges demands efforts beyond excellent, as demonstrated by the front.
1. Providing for the front.
The EU’s readiness to provide 90 billion euros for two years and several billion in leftover funds from previous programs inspires the authorities. It inspires them to gather everything under manual control and open the floodgates to manipulations.
This is categorically forbidden.
The mechanism for using the funds, its transparency, and effectiveness will determine whether we can seize what might be the last chance.
2. This particularly means we must win the battle soon. The battle against corruption.
The development of the corruption scandal is ripe with suspicions. Announcing them to key individuals, whose greed fuels the hopes of the rashists, will show that all expectations from anti-corruption infrastructure are not in vain.
However, “Dynasty” will certainly strike back. Here we all must be ready to repeat. At least July of last year. The anti-maidan must be defeated.
3. A coalition of unity, an action plan, and a professional government capable of implementing it – these are all tools from the arsenal of successful countries that have overcome existential challenges, conquered, and become trendsetters in the world.
This is the scenario that must be realized after the defeat of the “Dynasty” and the philosophy of the anti-maidan.
There have been enough experiments. It’s time to turn to recipes proven by successful countries.
4. Mutually beneficial partnership.
In the modern world, the strong are respected. But a braggart trying to capitalize on the achievement of the front for the benefit of a narrow circle of limited people will not earn respect. This means they will gain not results, but wrappers. As has happened many times before.
Foreign policy that provides long-term dividends is the domain of professionals.
Ukraine holds many trump cards, but it desperately needs the skill to use them wisely. Professional foreign policy is the key to forcing Russia to cease fire without any prerequisites, and to attaining the much-desired “security guarantees.”
5. Innovation. The factor of survival and victory.
Within it, like a drop of water, all problems and opportunities are reflected.
Education based on motivation. Science closely linked to solvent demand. Economic competition that generates resources, not the corrupt rent of “controlling and auditing bodies.”
What’s to be done has long been known. The problem is that the “exclusive” management, especially when thinking about “budgeting as needed and a little for salary,” not to mention “a deuce to Moscow,” is systematically incapable of achieving such a level.
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Therefore, the common denominator for all these directions is the unification of all resources and opportunities of society. Not around a “radiant leader” – around victory. Realizing the advantages of a republic of conscious citizens over a horde of slaves.
The path to leadership in the region and the world lies through the ability to withstand, win, and raise a new innovative society from the ruins of war.
This can be done only by rejecting egoism, belief in personal greatness, and the inability to look beyond one’s own cryptocurrency wallet, by creating a viable, unifying management system.
The prize – joining the ranks of the world’s leaders, is worth it. And the cost of defeat – being reduced to folklore elements – is a sufficiently motivating threat.
We all have just one year. Let’s make sure we do everything right this time.
Collage: Andriy Kalistratenko/UP
