Birmingham professor compares President Putin to teenage knife criminals

John R. Bryson, Professor of Enterprise and Economic Geography at the University of Birmingham, has analysed President Putin’s reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
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A University of Birmingham academic has drawn parallels between the bloodshed that President Putin has unleashed upon the innocent people of Ukraine and teen knife criminals.

John R. Bryson, who is a Professor of Enterprise and Economic Geography, has identified similar traits between Putin and teenage gang members as Ukraine continues to defend itself against the might of the Russian army.

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The expert notes how teenagers who carry knives with intent to cause harm to others are, in fact, frightened young men who have a fragile self worth and are at their most dangerous when they are vulnerable.

As Putin has failed to overwhelm Ukraine immediately, he fears he could now be at his most dangerous.

He said: “There are many different readings of this crisis. One that is overlooked in current accounts is to equate Putin’s action with teenage knife crime.

“Many teenage gang members are frightened and traumatised young men and often the most vulnerable are the most dangerous. Putin’s failure to overwhelm Ukraine means that he is now extremely vulnerable and at his most dangerous.”

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Prof Bryson admits that not everyone would have thought to draw a comparison between Putin and teenage knife criminals, but he explains it is in fact quite an obvious parallel to consider - with the only real difference being the weapons at their disposal.

“This link to Putin and knife crime might seem strange,” he said.

“But these young men often have a fragile sense of self-worth and consequently any perception that they have been disrespected will lie behind their motivation for a knife attack and even murder.

“In the world of teenage gangs, accepting disrespect is a sign of weakness. The difference between Putin and knife crime perhaps is only one based on the weapons available and the extent of the reach of any action.”

Vladimir Putin could face personal accountability for the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)Vladimir Putin could face personal accountability for the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
Vladimir Putin could face personal accountability for the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Is this the only comparison that Prof Bryson makes for President Putin’s behaviour in the face of war?

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Prof Bryson also draws comparisons between Putin and one of the Birmingham-based  inspirations behind J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

He said: “Another reading of Putin comes from looking across the University of Birmingham’s campus at ‘Old Joe’, or the 100m tall Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower, which dominates the Edgbaston campus.

“This tower is believed to have inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to imagine the Eye of Sauron that was ‘watchful and intent’ in his Dark Tower in the Lord of the Rings. Putin is watchful and intent from his safe position in the Kremlin.

“One of the lessons that comes from the Lord of the Rings is that the people of the West, or in Tolkien’s words ‘the men of the West’, had to combine to utterly defeat Sauron.

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“The same degree of unity between all nations of the free world is required to defeat Putin.

“The reaction against the illegal invasion of Ukraine is deepening - resulting in Russia’s increasing political and economic isolation.

“This is to be welcomed, but all this is too late. A similar unified front should have been presented to Putin when he annexed Crimea in 2014.”

An Ukrainian flag waves in front of smoke rising from a bombed warehouse in the town of Stoyanka, west of Kyiv, on March 4, 2022. - The UN Human Rights Council on March 4, 2022, overwhelmingly voted to create a top-level investigation into violations committed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. More than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, United Nations figures showed on March 4, 2022. (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)An Ukrainian flag waves in front of smoke rising from a bombed warehouse in the town of Stoyanka, west of Kyiv, on March 4, 2022. - The UN Human Rights Council on March 4, 2022, overwhelmingly voted to create a top-level investigation into violations committed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. More than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, United Nations figures showed on March 4, 2022. (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)
An Ukrainian flag waves in front of smoke rising from a bombed warehouse in the town of Stoyanka, west of Kyiv, on March 4, 2022. - The UN Human Rights Council on March 4, 2022, overwhelmingly voted to create a top-level investigation into violations committed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. More than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, United Nations figures showed on March 4, 2022. (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)

What other emotions could be affecting President Putin’s decision-making?

Prof Bryson puts a feeling of disrespect at the forefront of the emotions that could be affecting President Putin’s decisions.

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He said:  “In 2000, Putin experienced the first major crisis of his premiership. This was the sinking of the Kursk submarine.

“He handled this badly and from this he learnt that a key weapon was control over media discourse.

“Central to much of Putin’s rhetoric is a concern with his image and a sensitivity to any form of perceived disrespect. In Putin’s world he is always right.

“It is important to consider the narratives that emerge around the Ukrainian crisis.

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“To Russia this is a ‘special operation’ that is not about occupying territory but about destroying military capabilities.

“Nevertheless, this illegal operation is similar to knife crime, because at its roots is a false perception that Putin and Russia have been disrespected.

“Putin’s perception of disrespect then leads to an illegal ‘military campaign’ in which 352 civilians, including 14 children, were killed in the first four days of the invasion.

“In addition, the lives of all Ukrainians have been disrupted with normal life ceasing.”

More than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries since Russia launched its full-scale invasion (Picture: Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)More than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries since Russia launched its full-scale invasion (Picture: Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)
More than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries since Russia launched its full-scale invasion (Picture: Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

With the comparisons to knife crime can we really call this a military campaign?

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Prof Bryson has strong views about what he describes as the criminality of President Putin’s actions in Ukraine.

He said: “I began this piece by trying to understand the current situation in Ukraine. There are two points to make.

“First, a unified front is required to defeat Putin and ensure that this type of illegal action never occurs again. This must be consistent and long-term showing no signs of weakness.

“Second, Putin failed in his handling of the Kursk disaster and in the Salisbury poisoning. The current Ukraine situation has further highlighted Putin’s limitations.

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“Any plan for a rapid successful assault in which the might of the Russian army would overwhelm Ukraine has failed.

“Putin placed Russia’s nuclear deterrent on high alert. This highlights some degree of desperation or, in the world of teenage knife crime, the selection of a larger knife.

“When I read or listen to accounts of Russia’s military strategy in Ukraine there is another narrative flowing though my mind.

“This is a narrative of co-ordinated murder organised by Putin and this led to the links that I have made between Putin and knife crime.

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“Putin’s new Russian war should never be sanitised as something that is more akin to a military campaign; illegal killing of innocent civilians must always be defined for what it is - murder.”

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