By John Q. Hosedrinker 
During his annual “Direct Line” call-in show, Vladimir Putin advocated for Russians to emulate Caucasus traditions of early marriage to combat the country’s declining birth rate, citing Chechnya’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov as an example. This call came as Russia faces a severe demographic crisis, with the fertility rate significantly below replacement levels and birth rates at their lowest since 1999. Putin framed having children as a moral duty and has implemented “family-centered” strategies. These strategies include campaigns promoting large families and restricting content that encourages a child-free lifestyle.
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Russia’s birth rate plummets to a 200-year low, and apparently, the solution is early marriage, according to Putin. I mean, where does one even begin with this? It’s like a bad comedy routine, but the punchline is actually the fate of a nation. The immediate thought that springs to mind is the sheer absurdity of the situation. Let’s send young men off to war, potentially to their deaths, and the answer to dwindling birth rates is… more early marriages? It’s a disconnect that’s hard to fathom.
The logic seems to be: get married young, start families early, and then… well, then what? The implication is that more babies will somehow magically solve the population problem. What’s conveniently left out of the equation is the current reality: a country embroiled in a costly and destructive war, where young men are being conscripted and sent to the front lines. It’s almost as if the simple act of preventing the loss of so many young men, allowing them to reach parenting age, might be a slightly better starting point. One can’t help but wonder if he’s actively trying to sabotage his own country.
Instead of addressing the root causes, which are plainly obvious, the proposed solution feels like a desperate attempt to patch a gaping wound with a Band-Aid. The core issue is the war in Ukraine, which has resulted in a massive loss of life and a profound sense of uncertainty about the future. Throw in less-than-ideal economic conditions and a generally unstable environment and one can see why people might be hesitant to bring children into the world. It’s not rocket science; it’s basic human behavior. People don’t want to raise children in a world of war, economic hardship, and suppressed freedoms. It’s a natural reaction.
The notion of early marriage as a solution also brings up some deeply unsettling associations. Is there a desire to return to some outdated, oppressive past? The idea is, in some ways, horrifying. And, what about the potential for exploitation of young women, and the possible psychological impact on children growing up in a society where such practices are encouraged?
The war isn’t just a physical conflict; it’s a drain on resources and a source of deep anxiety. How can anyone be expected to enthusiastically embrace parenthood when the future feels so precarious? Moreover, it’s not a secret that the war has led to the emigration of many young people. The talent drain, the loss of human capital – it all compounds the problem.
Of course, the economic situation plays a significant role. If a country is struggling economically, people have less financial security, making it harder to start and raise a family. Basic necessities like healthcare, education, and housing are harder to obtain. And, let’s not forget the emotional toll of living in a society where dissent is stifled and basic human rights are potentially under threat. Why would you want to introduce a new life into such a bleak scenario?
The reality of the situation is that, on a broad scale, the quality of life is not being improved. And, as such, there are very obvious and real consequences. The suggestion of early marriage feels tone-deaf and out of touch with the challenges facing the Russian people. It’s a superficial fix that ignores the underlying issues.
Maybe it’s the lack of empathy, or perhaps it’s a fundamental misunderstanding of the causes of the current situation. It’s difficult to say exactly what drives such decisions. Whatever the reason, the proposed solution is destined to fail. The only way to address the birth rate issue is to create conditions where people feel safe, secure, and hopeful about the future. That means ending the war, improving economic conditions, and fostering a society that values human life and individual freedoms. Without those things, early marriage is just a cruel joke.
In the end, it’s all about creating an environment where people *want* to have children, not forcing them into it. That means providing the security, the opportunities, and the freedom that allows families to flourish. Anything less is just a tragic miscalculation. A nation’s future depends on its people and their well-being. Focusing on anything less than that is a recipe for disaster.