Is Nuclear War Around the Corner?

Gene · Post by **Gene** » Sat Dec 30, 2023 2:59 pm

Recently, there's been escalating talk of nuclear war, with some suggesting it's a question of "when" not "if." This alarming discourse is of course, intensified by the Ukraine conflict. To gauge the likelihood of Putin initiating a nuclear catastrophe, it's essential first to grasp the underlying dynamics and motives of the Ukraine invasion. Here's a concise timeline of the rationale behind it:

February 2021: Putin publishes an essay claiming historical unity between Russians and Ukrainians.
- According to Wikipedia: "In the essay, Putin argues that Russians and Ukrainians, along with Belarusians, are one people, belonging to what has historically been known as the triune Russian nation. To support the claim, he describes in length his views on the history of Russia and Ukraine, concluding that Russians and Ukrainians share a common heritage and destiny. Noting the large number of ethnic Russians in Ukraine, Putin compares "the formation of an ethnically pure Ukrainian state, aggressive towards Russia" to a use of weapons of mass destruction against Russians.
  
  Putin openly questions the legitimacy of Ukraine's contemporary borders. According to Putin, the modern-day Ukraine occupies historically Russian lands, and is an "anti-Russia project" created by external forces since the seventeenth century, and of administrative and political decisions made during the Soviet Union (a BBC article traced the term "anti-Russia project" to some Russian conspiratorial writing of 2011–13). He also discusses the Russo-Ukrainian War, maintaining that "Kiev simply does not need Donbas".
  
  Putin places blame for the current crisis on foreign plots and anti-Russian conspiracies. According to Putin, the decisions of the Ukrainian government are driven by a Western plot against Russia as well as by "followers of Bandera".
  
  Putin ends the lengthy essay by asserting Russia's role in modern Ukrainian affairs."
  
  Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Hi ... Ukrainians
April 2021: Russian troop buildup near Ukraine's borders.
December 2021: Putin demands NATO guarantees to halt eastward expansion.
February 2022: Russia recognizes breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
February 24, 2022: Russia invades Ukraine, citing "denazification" and protection of Russian speakers.
Ongoing 2022-2023: Battles, territorial changes, and international responses continue, with significant events such as the siege of Mariupol, counteroffensives by Ukraine, and internal challenges within Russia.

Now, we have the present result of the Ukraine invasion:

Ukraine has recaptured 54% of the territory initially occupied by Russia, which now holds 18%. The frontlines have stabilized, making breakthroughs difficult, and casualties have risen sharply, with Russia facing significant losses in places like Bakhmut. Despite launching counteroffensives, Ukraine faces stiff resistance. Internally, Russia experienced a major challenge when the Wagner Group briefly mutinied against military leadership, indicating potential cracks in its military structure and morale.

Putin rationalized the invasion with specific motives but didn't anticipate the strong Western, particularly U.S., support for Ukraine. This miscalculation led to a tougher conflict than expected. As Ukraine mounted a significant resistance, bolstered by Western arms and funding, it seemed to validate Putin's long-standing fears of Western aggression, reinforcing his narrative that the U.S. aims to undermine him. Publicly, he downplays this by framing Western aid as a preemptive strike against Russia, portraying himself as defending against an inevitable broader conflict.

This in itself points to Putin's emotional state of mind, which in turn indicates where his mental state is probably at.

The BBC’s Russian correspondent, Farida Rustamova, quoted a source that seems to support this very state of being:

The Russian president has in his head that the rules of the game are destroyed and destroyed not by Russia, and if this is a fight without rules, then this is a fight without rules and the new reality in which we live. . . He is in a state of resentfulness and insults. It’s paranoia that has reached a point of absurdity.

Now to analyze Putin's psychology from his recent actions, it's essential to reference insights from psychological studies and expert analyses. These would offer a nuanced view of his motivations, fears, and ultimately, his strategic thinking. To do so, I'll breakdown the analysis into its component parts to give a more defined understanding of the possible underlying causes to his abnormal behavior.

Anger and Isolation: Putin has been described as increasingly angry and isolated, especially after the invasion of Ukraine. This isolation might exacerbate a sense of being misunderstood or besieged, which can lead to more aggressive decision-making.
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Response: The polyvagal theory suggests that Putin's behavior might be influenced by his ANS being in a constant state of defense. This state is characterized by hypervigilance, anxiety, and an inability to engage socially or regulate emotions effectively. It leads to a fight-or-flight response, potentially making him see even neutral or ambiguous actions as threats.
Cognitive Biases: The influence of the ANS on higher cognitive processes could lead to biased thinking. This might manifest in paranoia or an exaggerated sense of threat from the West, skewing his interpretation of international actions and intentions.
Loss of Prefrontal Control: In a state of mobilization (as suggested by the polyvagal theory), the ability to access the prefrontal cortex diminishes. This part of the brain is responsible for complex planning, decision-making, and social behavior. A reduced capacity here might lead to more impulsive, less strategically considered actions.
Resentfulness and Paranoia: Reports suggest Putin feels the rules of the international game have been unfairly manipulated against Russia. This belief, combined with a heightened state of defensiveness, can foster deep-seated paranoia and resentment, driving a perception that aggressive actions are necessary for survival.
Reactivity to External Threats: The global reaction to his actions, especially the support for Ukraine, might be perceived not as a defense of international norms but as a direct attack on Russia, thus reinforcing his defensive stance and possibly leading to an escalation in aggression.
Resistance to Off-Ramps: His psychological state, as influenced by the ANS and perceived threats, might make it difficult for him to recognize or accept potential de-escalation paths, seeing them instead as traps or further provocations.

Or to put it another way...
Putin's fairly recent increased aggressive behavior and seemingly deteriorating mental state could be influenced by his autonomic nervous system (ANS) as explained by polyvagal theory. This theory posits that when the ANS perceives a threat, it can shift into a defensive mode, impairing self-regulation and social interaction. In Putin's case, this may manifest as increased anxiety, anger, even paranoia, with a sense of injustice, driving his isolation and unpredictable actions. This suggests that understanding these underlying biological processes is crucial for world leaders and diplomats as they attempt to navigate and mitigate the potentially dangerous outcomes of Putin's decisions.

Please keep in mind this analysis is speculative and based on Putin's public behaviors and his reported state of mind.

However, based on the core of what we've discussed, my personal analysis, as a layman, is that while Putin's psychological state might influence his decision-making and risk assessment, suggesting an increased likelihood of aggressive responses to perceived threats, the decision to launch a nuclear strike is not solely or even primarily psychological. It's a strategic decision with global implications, bound by political, military, and institutional constraints.

It's also worth noting that remote and speculative psychological analyses should be taken with caution. They can offer insights but are not definitive predictors of specific actions, especially for decisions as grave as a nuclear strike. As of the latest available information, there's a strong global consensus, including within Russia, to avoid any scenario that could lead to nuclear war. With that stated, I give a 10% chance that Putin will escalate to nuclear war.

This analysis was created by me and should be taken for how it's meant, a layman's opinion. I have been in intelligence and during that time, I learned that knowing the state of mind of a person will offer multiple insights. As Sun Tzu wrote in his book, "The Art of War", “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” I totally adhere to that statement.