Can an open letter persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to turn back? Psychologists from 20 countries warn Putin and name the consequences of the war for the population and the ruler.
Psychologists from around 20 countries want to use an open letter to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to rethink.
“We are writing to you to share our scientific and practical knowledge of the consequences of a war for those who start the war and to show you a way out of this dangerous situation,” begins the letter, written by the Hessian social psychologist Rolf van Dick (Frankfurt University) and Ulrich Wagner (Marburg University). Almost 40 colleagues from the USA to Poland, Norway to South Africa, India and Pakistan have signed.
With the letter, they want to inform Putin about the “negative effects” of his policy, as they write. With reference to scientific specialist literature, they explain which processes the war against Ukraine sets in motion. Ultimately, all of this leads to “rejection, isolation and physical threats” to those political leaders who are considered responsible.
Citizens on both sides of a war experienced “national isolation,” the letter said. This leads to a drive for change. Economic crises create the feeling of being disadvantaged “and this feeling is often the trigger for resistance, protest and revolutions against state institutions”.
Creating a world view in which you are positive and the enemy is negative “ties up resources and leads to the isolation and isolation of political leaders in a bubble of ‘yes-men’ – and they always face the danger that their lies will be exposed,” the authors write.
When there is no longer any security, citizens develop a strong need for explanations: “This ultimately leads to a perception of the situation as it really is: people will recognize who is responsible for the outbreak of war and all their suffering, injuries and death.”
“From our psychological perspective, the most important recommendation is to immediately stop acts of war,” the scientists advise Putin: “Think again about what goals you wanted to pursue with the war and what you will actually achieve with violence: for the Russian population and for you personally!» The letter shoots with the appeal: “Remain open to negotiations!”
Prof. van Dick does not consider it completely impossible that the letter will reach Putin, as he told the German Press Agency. Among other things, the letter was uploaded to an Internet portal through which Russian citizens can write to the president. The signatories also want to reach the critical opposition in Russia and send a signal to Ukraine.
Source: Stern
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