As Russia becomes more and more powerful, why do the general public still miss the Soviet era?

In the era when the red flag was waving, the Soviet Union was one of the only two superpowers in the world. It had its own dominant Warsaw Pact. Dozens of socialist countries in the world were dependent on the Soviet Union. At that time, the Soviet Union was free to express its will in world affairs and even do whatever it wanted. Although the Cold War and the "Iron Curtain" were in the United States on the other side of the ocean, the United States hated and feared this huge power and did not dare to act rashly.

After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia faced serious internal and external troubles. "Shock therapy" and the blockade of European countries slowed down Russia's economic growth. Although Russia has not completely changed the imbalance between light industry and heavy industry, the light industry still has great development, and the basic needs of residents can only be met. This contrast is naturally reminiscent of the past.

However, the "idealization" of the Soviet Union in the past does not mean that Russians prefer to live in the Soviet Union. Life is much more convenient than in Soviet times. Although the planned economy formed a sharp contrast with the market economy, in order to maintain its political power, the Soviet Union focused on the development of heavy industry, mainly smelting and equipment manufacturing, while neglecting the development of light industry.

As a result, it is difficult for many Russians to meet their basic living needs, and all kinds of materials are scarce. More importantly, the privileged class during this period also occupied a large amount of resources, which ultimately led to public dissatisfaction and loss of public support. How could the Soviet Union not die?

For Russians, convenience is paramount, and they are no longer willing to sacrifice happiness for an elusive ultimate goal. Regarding this mentality, Putin once said a very classic saying: "Whoever does not regret the disintegration of the Soviet Union has no conscience; anyone who wants to restore the old Soviet Union has no brains."