What's happened
Russia hosted Intervision, a Soviet-era music contest revived as a rival to Eurovision after its exclusion from the European event. The event featured 22 acts from BRICS, CIS, and other countries, with political undertones and technical issues, reflecting Russia's efforts to promote traditional values and strengthen ties with the Global South.
What's behind the headline?
The revival of Intervision underscores Russia's strategic shift away from Western cultural institutions, emphasizing its desire to forge new alliances within the Global South and BRICS. The event's political undertones, including Putin's pre-recorded message and the participation of pro-war figures like Shaman, reveal an intent to use music as a tool for nationalist propaganda. The technical issues and low online viewership suggest that the event struggles to gain genuine international traction, highlighting the gap between Russia's ambitions and its actual influence. The choice of next year's venue in Saudi Arabia further signals Russia's focus on strengthening ties with authoritarian regimes and expanding its cultural diplomacy beyond Europe. Overall, Intervision is less about music and more about asserting Russia's geopolitical narrative and cultural independence, which will likely deepen its isolation from Western-led international platforms.
What the papers say
The Moscow Times reports that Intervision was marked by awkward moments and technical difficulties, with limited online viewership, indicating a lack of genuine international engagement. It also highlights Putin's political messaging during the event, emphasizing traditional values and cultural diversity, while omitting references to the Ukraine invasion. The Independent emphasizes Russia's strategic use of Intervision to promote 'traditional family values' and strengthen ties with BRICS countries, contrasting it with Eurovision's inclusive image. Both sources agree that the event is a political tool, but The Moscow Times notes its limited reach and technical flaws, whereas The Independent focuses on Russia's broader geopolitical aims and cultural diplomacy. The articles collectively suggest that while Russia seeks to project cultural strength, its efforts are hampered by internal and external limitations, and the event serves more as a propaganda platform than a genuine musical competition.
How we got here
Russia was banned from Eurovision in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine. In response, Russia revived the Soviet-era Intervision contest, aiming to foster cultural ties with BRICS and other allied nations. The event emphasizes traditional values and patriotism, contrasting with Eurovision's inclusive image, and is part of Russia's broader strategy to promote a multipolar world order.
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