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Ukraine is game to you?

One wonders how much of Russia's decision to invade and annex Ukraine is due to Russia's demographic collapse. Russia's population is expected to decline to 135 million in 2050 from 146 million today, and according to the article linked below the country is facing a demographic "perfect storm" that will weaken Russia's economy and military strength. The current birthrate is just 1.5 children per woman, well below the 2.2 children that the article says is necessary just to keep the population at its current figure. The article lists the reasons for this low birthrate as the emigration of large numbers of Russian women of "prime childbearing age", uncertainty among the young over the future of the country economically and politically, the Russian government reducing or even cancelling "pro-natalist" policies, and the increasing numbers of Russians without access to healthcare. Yet many conservatives still admire Putin, Trump among them. Seems like there is a clear trend around the world of declining demographic groups (Russians, Evangelical Christians, whites generally, etc.) becoming increasingly desperate and resorting to ever more reckless actions to try and keep control of things even as their numbers shrink.

Link: https://jamestown.org/program/russias-demographic-collapse-is-accelerating/
 
Because the decision seems to be from Putin and the top, not some real desire from the desperate people to annex Ukraine.

But I think it does explain increasing support among white people for right-wing leaders like Putin.
 
And also, the Ukraine birthrate is 1.23 births per woman (2019), which is lower than Russia's. Of course they've already been involved in this war with Russia for years, but their birthrate tracks with Russia's.

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PhDeac said:
Because the decision seems to be from Putin and the top, not some real desire from the desperate people to annex Ukraine.

But I think it does explain increasing support among white people for right-wing leaders like Putin.
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Maybe, but there are some articles pointing out that Putin is well aware of Russia's declining demographics, and that played a role in his decision. The article below states that “Putin is obsessed with this demographic issue,” says Chalard. “In his mind, the power of a country is linked to the size of its population. The larger the population, the more powerful the state.”

Following this mindset, Putin presented the demographic crisis as a “historic challenge” in January 2020, and assured his country that “Russia’s destiny and its historic prospects depend on how numerous we will be”.

In the face of this, population decline is clearly a key motivator for Russia in its war against Ukraine, Chalard and Blum agree. Ukraine has a population of 44 million people who are mostly of Slavic descent from the former Soviet bloc. For Putin, the invasion is not only about capturing territory he believes belongs to Russia, but about gaining control over a population he wants to "integrate" into the country.

Maybe not the main reason for the invasion of Ukraine, but quite possibly a factor.

Link: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/...tin-has-no-other-choice-but-to-win-in-ukraine
 
BiffTannen said:
See post above shithead. It took me two seconds of Google research to disprove Highland's hypothesis.
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Read the article I posted. Not quite disproven. Even with a lower birthrate, taking Ukraine would still add nearly 45 million new people to Russia.
 
He'll have more people but it won't affect his demographics problem.
 
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