Why Russia is popular in the Global South

When I wrote about the weakness of Russian propaganda, that may have raised a question. Like, if Russian propaganda is so weak, then why is Russia so popular? Or, more precisely, why is it so popular in the Global South?Because it most certainly isWesterners, honestly speaking, don’t like Russia very much. But in the black and brown world, it is the other way around. Russia is popular, and people tend to sympathise with Russia, and with Kremlin, far more than, let’s say, most Americans doMore interestingly, Russian support base seems to be shockingly wide and bipartisan. It is equally loved by the Indians and Pakistanis, Muslims, and Christians, left-wings and right wings. There’s enormous diversity, and even idiosyncrasy in all of thatFor a Western liberal (who doesn’t like Russia), that may create an impression of an extremely cunning, extremely powerful propaganda machine that can persuade absolutely anyone, and recruit it for one’s cause. Because otherwise it is difficult to…