Russia Redefines Itself and Its Relations with the West

http://www.twq.com/07spring/index.cfm?id=250 ^ | Dmitri Trenin

[RusIvan]

Russia Redefines Itself and Its Relations with the West.

Dmitri Trenin is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and director of studies at the Carnegie Moscow Center.

Russian foreign policy’s modern-day motives are completely dissimilar to those of the recent Soviet and the more distant czarist past. Whereas the empire was predominantly about Eurasian geopolitics and the Soviet Union promoted a global ideological as well as political project backed up by military power, Russia’s business is Russia itself. Seen from a different angle, Russia’s business is business. In stark contrast to its Soviet past, postimperial Russia stands among the least ideological countries around the world. Ideas hardly matter, whereas interests reign supreme. It is not surprising then that the worldview of Russian elites is focused on financial interests. Their practical deeds in fact declare “In capital we trust.” Values are secondary or tertiary issues, and even traditional military power is hardly appealing. Fluctuating energy prices, not nuclear warheads, are what really matter to Moscow.

[RusIvan]

The truthful article about the modern Russia. The rare thing in the western press.

[RusIvan]

I found the real peice of analysis on Russia for you.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Europe pinglist

If you want on or off, go to the link for instructions. Otherwise, it won't be guaranteed that you will be put on or taken off (it still won't be 100% guaranteed, anyway, but will be much more highly probable).

[Atlantic Bridge]

I found the real peice of analysis on Russia for you.

Yep! This hits the point.

[M. Espinola]

"The truthful article about the modern Russia. The rare thing in the western press."

Comrade, have you gone off the deep end 100%? Do you know anything about the 'Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (Kremlin-funded spinmeisters)? Does the name Alger Hiss, bagged communist spy, ring a bell?

From the 'Carnegie Moscow Center'---->"From Moscow’s perspective, Russian-Western relations are competitive but not antagonistic."

Sure, sure, Putin's polices toward the West are the best thing since sliced bread ....and Putin's new improved neo-Soviet foreign policy offensive, arming terrorist exporting Iran & Syria are even better Kremlin international affairs in order to bring about a more stable Middle-East, is that correct too?

"Russia does not crave world domination, and its leaders do not dream of restoring the Soviet Union."

Now where have we heard that line?

"Russians no longer recognize U.S. or European moral authority.

According to you Comrade the majority of Russians trust KGB Putin's authoritarianism. Maybe you should consider departing Putin's Peoples Paradise, before the new Iron Curtain comes slamming down.

'Putin behind Litvinenko death'

Another critic of Putin meets an untimely end

Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei Calls on Russia to Establish Gas OPEC with Iran

[decimon]

If fascism was a socialist heresy then what Trenin describes could be called a fascist heresy. In fascism, economic interests were tools of the state. In this, the state is a tool of economic interests. In fact, this sounds like what Marxists have always accused the US of being.

[MARKUSPRIME]

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. You apprently have not researched this organization. Actions speak louder than words and we see russia's actions. You guys make scare the euros shyteless but not the US. :)

[MARKUSPRIME]

make=may

bloody typos...

[RusIvan]

and Putin's new improved neo-Soviet foreign policy offensive, arming terrorist exporting Iran & Syria are even better Kremlin international affairs in order to bring about a more stable Middle-East, is that correct too?==

Read the article. Putin cares less about the stability on ME. HE cares ONLY his profits. He SELLs weaponry whoever buys it by the hard currencies. Just compare. Soviet Union GAVE weaponry for free to "brother" nations.
So in case of Putin we has the situation of the ruthless and careless capitalist manager who wants more and more profits.

According to you Comrade the majority of Russians trust KGB Putin's authoritarianism. Maybe you should consider departing Putin's Peoples Paradise, before the new Iron Curtain comes slamming down.==

If I was in the Putin elite then I could feel myself in the paradise. Accually I'm not. But I agree with the majority Putin isn't commie and he is the best manager of Russia for last century or 2. Maybe only prime minister Stolipin of teh beginning of 20th century is better then him. But I continue to hope to see even the better manager then Putin. Who knows maybe after new elections we will see someone.

[A. Pole]

You are mean :)

[Cooking101]

"Seen from a different angle, Russia’s business is business."

Hmmmm, then why is Russia arming the enemies of the West, (Iran, Syria), with high tech anti-aircraft and anti-missle systems, and offensive weapons? Why is Russia so adament about blocking the U.S.'s attempts to stop the illegal nuclear programs of Iran? Why does Russia interfere with just about every single foreign policy of the U.S.? How is that a former KGB Colonel and died-in-the-wool Communist like Putin came to 'see the light' of democracy and capitalism while his country is becoming more and more authoritarian every day? When the Pope asked simply to visit Russia he was denied entry, why is that? Why are the various Christian demoninations trying to take a foothold in Russia being oppressed? Why do the Russians keep interfering in the internal affairs of the Ukraine? Why did Russia sign a military pact with the Chicoms and then begin having joint military exercices with them? Why do enemies of the corrupt Russian government keep turning up dead, or in jail? It's the same old Russia, nothing's changed.

[GSlob]

If only they focused on sniffing their own armpits, instead of mischief... well, one could dream.

[ReveBM]

Liked that article a lot, it provided a framework which makes sense and sounds truthful in terms of explaining why Russia behaves the way it does in the world today.

Read some of your profile, about the civil war in Russia in the 20s between the whites and the reds, do you have a perspective on how close it was? Was there ever any chance of the White side winning? How do you think history might have been different if the White forces had won? Did the Red forces win partly because they were more ruthless, willing to kill anyone who stood in their way?

Based on the article you posted it seems like although US-Russia relations are weak right now and don't have much cement to hold them together (less trade, diplomatic contact), because US and Russia have some other things in common (stronger belief in nationalism, for example, than the EU) it seems like through a series of events under the right leaders they could wind up on the same side depending on what type of a conflict it was.

[Freelance Warrior]

Hmmmm, then why is Russia arming the enemies of the West, (Iran, Syria), with high tech anti-aircraft and anti-missle systems, and offensive weapons?

Because they pay for the weapons. BTW what is offensive weapons and how it differs from the defensive?

Why is Russia so adament about blocking the U.S.'s attempts to stop the illegal nuclear programs of Iran?

Why illegal? Which law does it violate?

Why does Russia interfere with just about every single foreign policy of the U.S.?

May be it sees this profitable.

How is that a former KGB Colonel and died-in-the-wool Communist like Putin came to 'see the light' of democracy and capitalism

Because other died-in-wool Communists in Russia would restore socialism while those who aren't Communists are either traitors or schizophrenic fits-for-nothing or grant-suckers.

while his country is becoming more and more authoritarian every day?

Becuase the instutiion of state has been and still remaining ruined.

When the Pope asked simply to visit Russia he was denied entry, why is that?

Because Russian Orthodox Church has problems with the Catholics. The Russian government isn't eligible to do anything with this.

Why are the various Christian demoninations trying to take a foothold in Russia being oppressed?

If it so, I like that the "demoniations" are kept out of Russia. Secondly, freedom of worship in Russia is for Russian citizens and not for foreigners.

Why do the Russians keep interfering in the internal affairs of the Ukraine?

for the reasons of national security, support of Russians living there, harming a competitor and many more.

Why did Russia sign a military pact with the Chicoms and then begin having joint military exercices with them?

China is on the rise, the USA is on the fall.

Why do enemies of the corrupt Russian government keep turning up dead, or in jail?

Killing a competitor helps business.

[GSlob]

Mafiosity is a business, and has always been. Correct.

[Kozak]

And Russia is dying. Literally. In 20 years Siberia will be a province of China. Guess it will better for the aging, dying Slavs to sell it off before China just takes it.

[Freelance Warrior]

Once Siberia is a province of China all the world is a province of China: 1/5 of world population + Siberian resources+modern industry and science which are likely in China in 20 years.

Anyway, owning Siberia gives good income due to the mineral resources so it's not wise to sell it off.

Frankly, there're too many apocalyptical scenarios, and there have always been many.

First, Russian fertility ratio is like some of European countries like Italy and in the same group than all the others.

Secondly, the most comparable to Russia country in the terms of climate is Canada. Canada has population of 35 mln total which inhabits mainly the southern part of the country (it's warmer there then in Siberia). The Siberian situation in the same or better. No way hundreds of millions of the Chineese would go to live in Siberia.

[Kozak]

Russia has a "death spiral" fertility, just like Italy, Japan and Spain. It also has a male longevity of 53 years on a par with Bangladesh. Facts. Canada may have only a population of 35 million, but it doesn't border on an expansionist, acquisative neighbor with tens of millions of excess males. They have the US who they can confidently insult and whine about without worrying we will swallow them. Russia doesn't have that luxury. Read Steyn's book "America Alone" and you will have a good idea where Mother
Russia is headed.

As for being in decline, the US is about the only growing Western nation, likely to have MORE economic and military power over the next 50 years. So for Russia to piss us off is just stupid. Unless you want to learn Mandarin.

[Tailgunner Joe]

Indeed the Russians have become a crude caricature of their marxist idea of what a capitalist is. Russia makes money supporting the ayatollahs who are killing our soldiers in Iraq, and they think that it's justified so long as they do it out of greed rather than ideology, as if we care why they do it.

It is only natural that they should use their economic interests as imperialist weapons of intimidation and blackmail against their neighbors, because as Lenin wrote, "imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism." Sure they are capitalists, as long as one uses the Marxist-Leninist definition of capitalism as imperialism.

[decimon]

Indeed the Russians have become a crude caricature of their marxist idea of what a capitalist is.

Can't say I know that is the case but the article struck me that way. Worse is that many people here believe the same. I've met too many in business who act that way and who consider you naive if you don't.