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Notes -
Imperial mindset is nothing exclusive to Russia - European countries, including ones known as the most liberal today, fought hard to keep their empires for pure "national honor".
And this was far from unpopular at this time - remember this guy known as founding father of anti elitist anti intellectual small gubmint populism?
Guess what he thought about the issue of his day, the desperate attempt of France to save remains of her greatness?
No need for taxes to keep our grand world Empire! It could pay for itself, super profits would flow if not for these dastardly Yanks and Yooz.
There are still people in the West looking back to the past greatness, but overwhelming majority moved on. No reason why Russia couldn't move on too.
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