Russian autocracy was not in and of itself the root cause of the Cold War. After all, Russia was a totalitarian state for the 1000+ years prior to 1917 (one of the lowlights of Czar Nicholas II's rule was dissolving the Duma). The Cold War grew out of the desire of the Bolsheviks to spread their "revolution" to other countries. The red tide of communism quickly took over Mongolia, destabilized China and began permeating into Europe. It culminated with Kruschev pounding his shoe and pledging to "bury America".
What is Putin doing that he would want to "spread" around the world? It would be great if he spread his economic reforms around Europe. The issue is spheres of influence. Nations such as The Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia have been in Russia's sphere for centuries. Moscow no more wants to see America meddling in Serbia as Washinton wants to see Moscow meddling in Mexico.
Freedom doesn't work that way. Russia has no unalienable right to a so-called "sphere of influence".
Moscow no more wants to see America meddling in Serbia as Washinton wants to see Moscow meddling in Mexico.
Moscow can meddle in Mexico all it wants -- the day it wishes to spread freedom and not tyranny.
Czar Nicholas HATED the Chinese... to the tip of his toes.