One small correction, the Global South is a post-cold war term to mean all of the countries that we’d call “underdeveloped” or “third world countries”, not just the continent of South America lol. No shade, it was simultaneously hilarious and I suppose correct in a way.

it’s not practically valuable to conceptualize a swim in the ocean as a bath in piss.

For one, I like this analogy. Secondly, I think I see your point now. Finland’s impact is tiny, and for a vast majority of Finland’s history they were watching imperialism and colonialism occur from the sidelines. Yes, the countries bordering Russia should be prepared for an invasion. Putin is currently occupied, but he’s also kinda unpredictable. I don’t think the countries in Western Europe should be quite as on edge though. It’s anxiety inducing for sure to be a stone’s throw away from a hostile nation, and a lot of people don’t know or forgot what that anxiety felt like during the Cold War. I know I certainly don’t know what that anxiety was like. I’m of the stance that all militaries are bad, if you couldn’t tell, and therefore conscription is the worst possible thing a country can do to fill out their ranks. Frankly, it feels highly hypocritical to condemn Russia’s conscription while simultaneously entertaining or practicing the option in the West.