What Russia Hopes To Gain From Conflict

{
  "authors": [
    "Maria Lipman"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center",
  "programAffiliation": "",
  "programs": [],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Caucasus",
    "Russia"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Foreign Policy"
  ]
}

In The Media

Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

What Russia Hopes To Gain From Conflict

Although U.S.-Russian relations have steadily deteriorated over the past number of years, the current conflict between Russia and Georgia marks a dramatic worsening of relations. Masha Lipman argues that the West’s inability to prevent Russia from projecting its force is very disquieting.

By Maria Lipman

Published on Aug 11, 2008

Source: NPR's All Things Considered

Although U.S.-Russian relations have steadily deteriorated over the past number of years, the current conflict between Russia and Georgia marks a dramatic worsening of relations. Masha Lipman argues on NPR’s All Things Considered that the West’s inability to prevent Russia from projecting its force is very disquieting.

Click Here to Listen

About the Author

Maria Lipman

Former Scholar in Residence, Society and Regions Program, Editor in Chief, Pro et Contra, Moscow Center

Lipman was the editor in chief of the Pro et Contra journal, published by the Carnegie Moscow Center. She was also the expert of the Carnegie Moscow Center’s Society and Regions Program.

Recent Work

Commentary
The Russian State Power and the Ukrainian Human Factor
- Maria Lipman
Commentary
Putin’s Crimean Conquest Pushes Russia to an Anti-Modernization Course
- Maria Lipman

Foreign Policy Caucasus Russia

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Commentary
Diwan
Iran and the New Geopolitical Moment
A coalition of states is seeking to avert a U.S. attack, and Israel is in the forefront of their mind.
Michael Young
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Baku Proceeds With Caution as Ethnic Azeris Join Protests in Neighboring Iran
Baku may allow radical nationalists to publicly discuss “reunification” with Azeri Iranians, but the president and key officials prefer not to comment publicly on the protests in Iran.
Bashir Kitachaev
Commentary
Diwan
Iran’s Woes Aren’t Only Domestic
The country’s leadership is increasingly uneasy about multiple challenges from the Levant to the South Caucasus.
Armenak Tokmajyan
Article
The Tragedy of Middle Eastern Politics
The countries of the region have engaged in sustained competition that has tested their capacities and limitations, while resisting domination by rivals. Can a more stable order emerge from this maelstrom, and what would it require?
Hamza Meddeb, Mohamed Ali Adraoui
Paper
The United States and the Emerging Security Order in Eastern Syria
As Washington reduces its presence in the country, the success of its withdrawal and continued containment of the Islamic State will hinge on adopting an approach of flexible oversight built around three priorities, as well as balancing Turkish and Israeli red lines.
Kheder Khaddour, Issam Kayssi

More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Commentary

Diwan

Iran and the New Geopolitical Moment

A coalition of states is seeking to avert a U.S. attack, and Israel is in the forefront of their mind.

Michael Young

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Baku Proceeds With Caution as Ethnic Azeris Join Protests in Neighboring Iran

Baku may allow radical nationalists to publicly discuss “reunification” with Azeri Iranians, but the president and key officials prefer not to comment publicly on the protests in Iran.

Bashir Kitachaev

Commentary

Diwan

Iran’s Woes Aren’t Only Domestic

The country’s leadership is increasingly uneasy about multiple challenges from the Levant to the South Caucasus.

Armenak Tokmajyan

A municipal employee raises the US flag among those of other nations in Sharm el-Sheikh, as the Egyptian Red Sea resort town gets ready to receive international leaders, following a Gaza ceasefire agreement, on October 11, 2025.

Article

The Tragedy of Middle Eastern Politics

The countries of the region have engaged in sustained competition that has tested their capacities and limitations, while resisting domination by rivals. Can a more stable order emerge from this maelstrom, and what would it require?

Hamza Meddeb, Mohamed Ali Adraoui

Paper

The United States and the Emerging Security Order in Eastern Syria

As Washington reduces its presence in the country, the success of its withdrawal and continued containment of the Islamic State will hinge on adopting an approach of flexible oversight built around three priorities, as well as balancing Turkish and Israeli red lines.

Kheder Khaddour, Issam Kayssi