The Russian strategic rationale emerges

ARTICLE: "Russia Adopts Blustery Tone Set by Envoy," by Clifford J. Levy, New York Times, 28 August 2008, p. A1.

Russia's finger-wagging envoy to NATO:

"There are two dates that have changed the world in recent years: Sept. 11, 2001, and Aug. 8, 2008," Mr. Rogozin said in an interview, explaining that the West has not fully grasped how the Georgia conflict has heightened Russians' fears about being surrounded by NATO. "They are basically identical in terms of significance."

"Sept. 11 motivated the United States to behave really differently in the world," he said. "That is to say, Americans realized that even in their homes, they could not feel safe. They had to protect their interests, outside the boundaries of the U.S. For Russia, it is the same thing."

I guess there is no time limit on claiming one's own 9/11-like writ to propose new rules--at least for oneself.

Clever stuff, though, and not totally disingenuous.

Security is one flow, demographics another, then there's energy, and finally there's FDI. All are in play here: NATO extension, Russian fears of demo decline, the use of energy as a great power-enabler, and the impact--slow but sure--regarding investments.

The interplay is what matters, as do the rationales offered.

Comments

[Bill C.]

Robert Kagan ("Power Play" below), like Fukuyama ("The End of History"), seems to find economic factors much less compelling in determining the nature of nations and men. Herein, both seem to say that "the desire for status and recognition" trumps economics every time.

This would seem to hold true, not only for Russia, but also for the United States, who, in its "pressing" of Russia post the Cold War, seems to have ignored economics for the sake of its (the United States') own status.

And, thus, it (the United States) has reaped a "status" response in kind from Russia.

Would it be fair to say that we cannot expect other nations to place economics before status (and therefore overcome human nature) unless we are willing to do this first ourselves and, thereby, set the example for the international community?

[Kevin from Minneapolis]

I do not understand what Russia feels it has to be afraid of.

[Todd]

Can buy the argument up to the point where it's realized that Post - 9/11 US actions reactive / defenseive / punitive in nature v Russsian context which is presented as fait accompli.