What's making Zelenskyy popular?

+ a downside of sanctions US Edition - Today's top story: How Zelenskyy emerged as the antithesis of Putin and proved you don't need to be a strongman to be a great leader [View in browser]( US Edition | 5 March 2022 [The Conversation]( Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a comedian turned politician, has been widely hailed as a hero for standing up against a powerful aggressor. Selfie videos showing the 44-year-old leader walking the streets of war-rattled Kyiv have drawn widespread admiration. It’s likely that any political leader resisting Russia’s attempt at invasion would have been revered. However, political philosopher Michael Blake writes that [there might be more going on]( in this case. Zelenskyy is presenting a vision of political leadership that is modest and not “morally superior to the governed.” Being the antithesis of Putin’s authoritarianism likely offers hope to those in favor of democracy, Blake writes. This week we also liked articles about [cheap DIY air purifiers](, [big oil companies nixing ties with Russia]( and a [militaristic cathedral on the outskirts of Moscow](. Kalpana Jain Senior Religion + Ethics Editor Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been lauded for his resistance to the Russian invasion. Photo by Laurent Van der Stockt for Le Monde/Getty Images [How Zelenskyy emerged as the antithesis of Putin and proved you don’t need to be a strongman to be a great leader]( Michael Blake, University of Washington A political philosopher explains the moral symbolism ascribed to Zelenskyy’s ‘heroism’ and why he offers hope to those who hold democracy dear. A do-it-yourself air purifier in use in a classroom. Douglas Hannah [How a nondescript box has been saving lives during the pandemic – and revealing the power of grassroots innovation]( Douglas Hannah, Boston University 3D printers got a lot of attention when DIYers leapt to action to address equipment shortages early in the pandemic, but some everyday items found in hardware stores played a big role, too. Pumps at a Shell fueling station in Tatarstan, Russia, Nov. 20, 2017. Yegor Aleyev\TASS via Getty Images [Shell, BP and ExxonMobil have done business in Russia for decades – here’s why they’re leaving now]( Yan Anthea Zhang, Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University The world’s largest energy companies are used to doing business in risky places with difficult partners. But with war in Ukraine, preserving their reputations outweighs profits. - [Economic sanctions may deal fatal blow to Russia’s already-weak domestic opposition]( Brian Grodsky, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Sanctions follow a ‘punishment logic,’ which often hurts the wrong people – and will likely weaken an already beleaguered Russian opposition. - [Holy wars: How a cathedral of guns and glory symbolizes Putin’s Russia]( Lena Surzhko Harned, Penn State To understand Russia’s war in Ukraine, look to the blend of religious and militaristic nationalism under Putin – on full display in the Church of the Russian Armed Forces. - [Meet Russia’s oligarchs, a group of men who won’t be toppling Putin anytime soon]( Stanislav Markus, University of South Carolina An expert on oligarchs explains how they came to be Russia’s richest and most powerful people and scrutinizes their relationship with Putin. - [Russian troops fought for control of a nuclear power plant in Ukraine – a safety expert explains how warfare and nuclear power are a volatile combination]( - [The US is boosting aid to Ukraine: 4 questions answered]( - [What the Montreux Convention is, and what it means for the Ukraine war]( - [Skateboarding’s spiritual side – skaters find meaning in falls and breaking the monotony of urban life]( - [Women’s History Month: 5 groundbreaking researchers who mapped the ocean floor, tested atomic theories, vanquished malaria and more]( - [US Climate risks are rising – a scientist looks at the dangers her children will have to adapt to, from wildfires to water scarcity]( - [Surprise – your kids may be nervous about ditching the mask]( - [The sex of your cells matters when it comes to heart disease]( - [College could take place in the metaverse, but these problems must be overcome first]( - [What’s behind the obsession over whether Elizabeth Holmes intentionally lowered her voice?]( - More from The Conversation US - Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly emails: [Politics Weekly]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( - - About The Conversation: We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](