Conversations about white supremacy in America today typically center on right-wing media and incendiary politicians who blast out racist dog whistles.
But hate doesn’t need demagogues to get mainstreamed; it has also found an outlet at elite universities.
On June 29, Stanford University hosted a delegation from the Azov Brigade, a neo-Nazi formation in the Ukrainian National Guard. The panel, during which Azov’s neo-Nazi insignia was projected onto the wall, was attended by noted political scientist Francis Fukuyama, who posed for a photograph with the delegation.
A famous philosopher Francis Fukuyama @FukuyamaFrancis joined us in Stanford. Mr. Fukuyama expressed gratitude to Azov @azov_media Sergeant Arseniy Fedosyuk for his service and heroism during Mariupol campaign and uttered support to Ukraine on our sure way to victory. pic.twitter.com/dpqGjI27v8
— Kateryna Prokopenko (@KatProkopenkoUa) June 30, 2023
This event — and the disturbing lack of reaction from Jewish organizations — showcases the limits of America’s commitment to combating white supremacy.
Call it the Ukraine exception.
Before Russia’s 2022 invasion, nearly every Western institution raised alarms about Azov. Putin’s brazen attack on Ukraine led to a much deserved outpouring of support for the country. Unfortunately, it also led to suppression of those who criticize the dark side of Kyiv: its reliance on far-right military elements, the most prominent example of which is Azov.
Even amid today’s surge of antisemitism globally, Azov has become the Teflon Neo-Nazis: freedom fighters who can do no wrong, celebrated across America, including at prestigious institutions like Stanford.
Had Putin only attacked the small areas that might actually side with him (there do appear to be some areas where historically Russians live in Ukraine) and fought just Azov he MIGHT Have gotten away with it. Attacking the larger area and Kiev was a mistake imo.
I’ve been saying this since the start of the war, and any time I would point it out anywhere on reddit it was constant mass down votes.
Let’s say this war ends with Ukraine winning; I’m willing to bet within 15 years we will have a taliban style insurrection from Azov, using the same weapons and equipment we handed them. And then Ukraine will be either in a protracted Civil War or controlled by actual, literal nazis.
We didn’t put any strings on any of the aid we gave them, and a lot of the weapons we are giving g Ukraine are completely untrackable. We can’t know where they will end up, who will control them, or who will try to use them in the future.
What makes you think they want to do that? I haven’t seen any indication of that whatsoever.
