Blog Post 3: Satire

In my opinion, it is impossible to talk about Absurdistan without a reference to Shteyngart’s use of satire. Unfortunately, the satire about Russian history and writers goes almost entirely over my head. The satire that surfaces when MIsha arrives in Absurdistan, however, is pertinent to almost any American who pays at least a little attention to global news. I believe Shteyngart’s satire of Absrudistan has more than one level. Most obviously, Absurdistan is satirized as an ex-Soviet republic. The country is depicted as a political football, with the Russian, EU, and American forces all trying to control it, and it is therefore unable to actually govern itself. In this instance of satire, it seems Shteyngart does not so much have a commentary on the situation; he is merely illustrating the ridiculousness of it. I think the deeper level of satire shown in the book is when Shteyngart uses Absurdistan to comment on the involvement of America in the Middle East. The fact that Halliburton, or Golly Burton as the local call it, is really the ruling class of the country is obviously a reference to the Bush administration possibly unethical use of the corporation in Afghanistan. Other similarities between Absurdistan and countries like Afghanistan and Iraq, other than complete American control, is the vast availability of oil and warring religious factions. In this satire I think Shteyngart certainly is expressing his disapproval of our country’s foreign policy for the past eight years. Not wanting to offend any other politically inclined individual reading the book, I have to say I think Shteyngart is spot on.