[WS:] I would not call it exactly "terrific" but he is definitely into something when he writes:
"Part of the hostility to Pussy Riot is that they’ve become a cause-célèbre in the West. Russians have not had a very good historical experience with things the West think Russia should do, going back a few centuries — the memory of America’s support for that drunken buffoon Yeltsin while he let the country and its people sink into misery is still raw — "a painful memory" like John Turturro's character says in "Miller's Crossing," a memory woven tightly into the Russian RNA’s spool of historical grievances. And nothing triggers that reactionary Russian live-wire gene like an earful of Westerners moralizing about any topic, even the most obvious topic, even the topic where it’s 100% clear we’re on the right side for once."
However, he misses another dark aspect of the Russian soul -sexism. If the stunt was done by a bunch of young men, the mob's reaction would certainly be very much different.
To be sure, counter-cultural protesters receive a raw treatment from the police and mainstream society in most so-called democratic countries, including the US and Canada. Graeber makes a good point about it in his "Direct Action." The reason is that such protest questions the tacit authority relations in society and this pisses a lot of people off, because it reminds them how much they suck up to authority in everyday life and call it "freedom". They are being spat in their faces by their superiors and they think it is raining, but as soon as someone shows them what it really is, they get mad and curse the messenger.
But it also matters who the messenger is, especially in mostly "traditional" societies where stereotypical gender roles are still an integral part of the popular culture. If the questioning of tacit authority relations that requires guts and taking personal risks is done by men - it goes with the sexist stereotype of male "bravery," fearlessness, boldness, chutzpah etc. It is therefore more acceptable in such societies, even if it reveals some inconvenient truths. But the situation changes dramatically if such acts are performed by women - which not only reveals some inconvenient truths but also goes against deeply embedded gender role. A good Russian woman is supposed to be prone, accept her fate and pray - especially in church - not to fight back. Acting against this stereotype is not just inconvenient - it touches a raw nerve.
I do not think Russia is an exception to that rule - things would have been much worse in most Asian or African country. In Saudi Arabia, Iran or Pakistan they punish women for far less serious "offences" against the so-called "public morals." However, Russia is not seen as a "backward third world country" but rather as a relatively modern power. Hence such a medieval reaction appear more shocking. I am pretty sure, however, that you can find similar attitudes in the so-called industrialized democracies of Western Europe or America - they just do not get as much publicity.
-- Wojtek
"An anarchist is a neoliberal without money."