The Grandeur and Destitution of the Oligarchs. Ukrainian magnates have successfully completed their age-old purpose. Now, a knowledgeable elite must supersede the depleted, unenlightened plutocracy.
Those were chaotic times – the decade of the 1990s. There was nothing; everything was ruined and pilfered. It was bewildering to comprehend how vast fortunes had been amassed and yet neglected. Only a few individuals possessed the know-how to transform the shattered remnants into lucrative enterprises.
Even in those early years, I became intrigued by oligarchs as a phenomenon. I established and initiated the publication of the magazine “Oligarch.” I journeyed throughout Greece, exploring its museums and ancient landmarks, conversing with archaeologists, historians, authors, psychologists, and anthropologists. After all, to grasp what the future holds, we must realize that history unfolds in a cyclical pattern. Events recur repeatedly, albeit uniquely in each nation.
I even sought out vestiges of Aristotle, who conceived these cursed oligarchs, and concurrently, the system of alternating monarchies-oligarchies-aristocracies-democracies, which succeeded one another like autumn-summer, and spring-winter.
Typically, it unfolded in this manner: people lived contentedly in their homeland until a calamity struck—a deluge, an earthquake, an epidemic, a war. The country would be utterly devastated. And then, from nowhere, 20-30 men from diverse backgrounds and societal levels would rapidly arise and reconstruct it from the debris. The unfortunate aspect was that they would simultaneously enrich themselves immeasurably and dishonestly, capitalizing on the prevailing leniency. It was an ideal arrangement: they salvaged the nation and benefited personally.
The fledgling upper class frequently behaved amorally and disloyally. But the options were limited: without them, the country would have never been able to recover. These wealth-adoring elites became oligarchs (“rule of the few”) and governed for the subsequent 20-50 years. They became avaricious, impudent, exceeded all boundaries of propriety, oppressed the populace, and grossly undercompensated them. However, the factories whirred, the fields flourished, the trees bore fruit, the wagons rolled, commodities were traded, the spectacles continued, and the GDP expanded steadily.
Subsequently, the lower strata began to murmur: “We labor for you, we care for your offspring, we educate them. We ought to distribute the wealth equitably.” The learned social class, already barely enduring the derision of the semi-literate upstarts, was especially incensed. Over time, the oligarchs commenced losing sway.
The country gradually declined and became susceptible to envious neighbors, captivated by the oligarchs' prosperity. The neighbors started seeking justifications to intrude. Consequently, the local gentry forfeited both its affluence and its influence.
How does this relate to us?
Ukrainian oligarchs, to their credit, adeptly fulfilled their historical task. They pieced together the fragmented economy into technological networks and organized enterprises vertically and horizontally. Naturally, they invariably claimed responsibility for the outcomes. But the crucial aspect is that the economic structure was established.
The oligarchs then undertook the most lucrative, albeit most challenging, endeavor. They rebuilt three essential sectors: the banking system, the oil and gas industry, and heavy manufacturing. They also fashioned a media landscape that had previously been nonexistent in the country. No one except the prospective oligarchs could have accomplished such an exploit.
You might assert that they ruthlessly exploited people's faith and utterly plundered them. I concur: it's the unvarnished truth. In my view, oligarchs are akin to alligators. They are predatory and merciless beings. But nobody globally advocates the complete eradication of alligators or accuses them of immorality. Nature requires them for some justification. At a specific juncture.
In recent years, our oligarchs have come to the understanding that their ventures have matured to the utmost achievable degree. There's no scope for betterment. They must entirely reshape their businesses; otherwise, they'll be engulfed or seized. This is how animals are typically fattened for subsequent utilization.
Appreciating this, the oligarchs segregated into three factions. The first group appropriated everything, liquidated it, or relinquished it. The second commenced cooperating with their impending adversary. The third group resolved to safeguard their possessions, and consequently, the nation. But these indecisions of the Ukrainian oligarchy will no longer be capable of rescuing it as a class. The Moor has completed his duty; the Moor can depart.
The depleted, unenlightened plutocracy will be succeeded by a knowledgeable elite. This is an emerging trend, even if it is not yet apparent due to the fact that the vestiges of disoriented political forces and spent politicians are still conspicuous. However, they are already being swept away by the relentless rationale of historical processes.
Uncivilized methods of conducting commerce and politics will, albeit tardily, be superseded by refined ones—under Western influence. This will transpire not because our populace will become superior and more principled, but because the West will allocate the initial 50-100 billion euros here and commence meticulously monitoring where they are directed.
Symbolic concurrences frequently arise in enigmatic manners in history, and our nation is no exception.
This winter, Ukrainian oligarchs, the wealthiest of whom are on the Forbes 100 roster, engaged in an imbalanced confrontation against patriotic heroes subsequently christened the Heavenly Hundred. At the expense of their existence, the Heavenly Hundred prevailed in the death struggle against the Oligarchic Hundred. Although the latter is still desperately endeavoring to resist, its conclusion is imminent. And in the ensuing year, the compilation of the paramount individuals on the Forbes 100 roster will be dissimilar. The figures will be diminished, and the industries will fluctuate. Perhaps its protagonists will no longer even be termed oligarchs.
Everything is as Aristotle documented. Or Balzac, the originator of the renowned French novel “The Grandeur and Misery of Courtesans.”
Author: Vladimir Spivakovsky
Based on materials from: Nvua.net
