EAST AND WEST

Viktor Yerofeyev is one of the most prominent contemporary Russian writers. His latest book is “The New Barbarism: Fantasy novel on Russian guilt”

East and West: When the war in Ukraine ends, if it ends, will Europe and Russia be able to live side by side peacefully? Or is the conflict between Europe and Russia too entrenched, civilisationally and culturally?

Viktor Yerofeyev: As a writer I believe that human nature can behave in different ways, and it can very quickly forget everything and quickly begin to look for new connections, between Russia and Ukraine, between Russia and Europe and the world. Of course things can go another way, but most likely human nature, as we know it on the basis of this phenomenon called Stockholm Syndrome, will lead to people wanting to live quietly and find solutions peacefully. Everyone is fed up with the war. I am not saying that this is moral. I am not saying it is immoral either. I am just saying that this is what human behaviour is like. Of course something else can happen, but for this there should be a very positive hatred, and there is no such thing. I think that, no matter how horrible it sounds, everything will end quickly after the end of the war.

East and West: Quickly, after the end of the war?

Viktor Yerofeyev: Human nature is much more difficult to interpret than when we think of it logically. Neither love nor hatred have much to do with logic. So everything is possible. Even after one million deaths. This is of course horrible. But Man is like that.

East and West: There is much talk about the end of liberal civilization these days. Do you see signs of this in Europe too?

Viktor Yerofeyev: Yes, of course. All these parties from the left and the right are also among these new barbarians, that are not built around principles of some moral or metaphysical values. This is also barbarism. In Europe the situation is different in different countries. There are countries where this disease is already strong, in some less so, some are almost not touched by this. Anyway, this phenomenon exists and it is difficult to imagine that we could go back. We are going through a very difficult period.

East And West: In Russia people speak of “liberal totalitarianism”. What do you think about this idea?

Viktor Yerofeyev: These are just slogans. In Europe there is still a large package of liberal values, there is no totalitarianism, there is dissatisfaction with this package of values. Among the young, among the creative classes, among others too. People need, like Putin said, some sort of dvizhukha, action. And in this he is, unfortunately, right.

East And West: Some Russians of liberal persuasion looked at Europe’s reaction since the war and became more “patriotic”. Did you notice this phenomenon?

Viktor Yerofeyev: At the beginning of a war, there are always more people who are against the war than after two, three or four years. Man has the tendency to look for a foundation for his life, materially, morally and with regard to the family. At the beginning of the war people knew that Russia was the sole culprit, and now people see responsibility in others too. If we take a look back, of course there are a lot of reasons to argue that there is responsibility on the side of the West too. If the war had ended quickly, it would have been possible to say that Russia is to blame for everything, but now that the war continues, Russian guilt has become meaningless.

East And West: Did it happen to you that some friendships ended because of the war?

Viktor Yerofeyev: No, it did not happen to me. But my case is quite specific. I am a known writer. Why would people want to cut off contacts? Even if we disagree. I am not even a foreign agent. Like Sorokin.