Russia vs Europe
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Russia vs Europe
Excellent article on relations between Russia and Europe and dwelling on the Russian concept of "Sovereign Democracy", also forecasting problems ahead as it sees the EU and Russian differences as being based on fundamentally incompatible ideologies.
Very timely in view of the upsurge in various disputes of late. I found this statement particularly worrying:
"The contrasting nature of political elites in Russia and Europe today is one more reason for concern over the future of the relationship. The new Russian elite, winner of the zero-sum games of the transition, is very different from its late-Soviet predecessor - whose members were bureaucratic, risk-adverse and competent when it came to international relations and security policies. The new elite's cadres are highly self-confident, risk-prone and immensely wealthy. Europe does not know how to deal with these people. European political elites, which made their careers in practicing compromise and avoiding conflicts, are facing elites that are proud of not taking hostages. Mutual misperceptions and misunderstandings seem unavoidable."....
Russia vs Europe: the sovereignty wars
Very timely in view of the upsurge in various disputes of late. I found this statement particularly worrying:
"The contrasting nature of political elites in Russia and Europe today is one more reason for concern over the future of the relationship. The new Russian elite, winner of the zero-sum games of the transition, is very different from its late-Soviet predecessor - whose members were bureaucratic, risk-adverse and competent when it came to international relations and security policies. The new elite's cadres are highly self-confident, risk-prone and immensely wealthy. Europe does not know how to deal with these people. European political elites, which made their careers in practicing compromise and avoiding conflicts, are facing elites that are proud of not taking hostages. Mutual misperceptions and misunderstandings seem unavoidable."....
Russia vs Europe: the sovereignty wars
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: where the streets have no IEDs. Yet.
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It was once said of France that it only ever joined a gang if it could be the leader. I suspect that that's doubly true of Russia; the easiest man to provoke is the one whose pride you disdain and we do seem to have been hopelessly contemptuous of Russia since '89. 'The End of History ?' Yeah right.
A thought-provoking piece; thanks for the link ORAC.
A thought-provoking piece; thanks for the link ORAC.
