According to some data total population in 2020 Russia amounted to around 77 mln citizens, much lower than the official government statistic of 140 mln.
The numbers are wildly exaggerated for the purpose of making an illusion of democratic elections and to boost image of “big player on world arena”.
Ruskies are known to live below poverty standards but “great nation” ideology sustains them, weirdly.
@Vonzales such is nationalism; one of the last sources of pride for the economically or socially impoverished. It’s the “you have little so pump yourself up by affiliation” dynamic of basking in reflected glory:
@CanisPundit It’s what brought Hitler to power. “The world hasn’t been fair to us, we deserve better, looks like this little fella with an ink blot under his nose is going to fix that”
@Vonzales that and the Ayran mythology/greatness through nationalism and more manipulative psychological dynamics we get to see in color in the 21st century. Human psychology hasn’t changed as much as the technology to exploit it has.