Russia May Be Trying to Flex Muscles

{
  "authors": [
    "Robert Kagan"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "russia",
  "programs": [
    "Russia and Eurasia"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "North America",
    "United States",
    "Caucasus",
    "Russia"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Foreign Policy"
  ]
}

In The Media

Russia May Be Trying to Flex Muscles

Russia’s use of military power to obtain geopolitical objectives in Georgia is reminiscent of strategy pursued by 19th century superpowers to gain resources and power on the international stage. The West must make it clear to Russia that their long-term relationships are at stake if the country does not withdraw its military.

By Robert Kagan

Published on Aug 11, 2008

Source: NPR's All Things Considered

Calling Russia’s military advancement into Georgia an event no less significant than the fall of the Berlin Wall, Robert Kagan draws an analogy between Russia’s actions and those of 19th century superpowers who used military power to gain resources and power on the international stage. He suggests that Russia may be using military aggression in Georgia as a way to regain the international standing it held during the Cold War.

Kagan urges the U.S. and other Western powers to make explicit their disapproval of Russian actions. He recommends threats of sanctions, including expelling Russia from international organizations and partnerships. A strong stance is needed not only to halt current conflict in Georgia, but also to demonstrate to Russia that it cannot act with impunity in any of the former Soviet states.

Click Here to Listen

About the Author

Robert Kagan

Former Senior Associate

Kagan, author of the recent book, The Return of History and the End of Dreams (Knopf 2008), writes a monthly column on world affairs for the Washington Post and is a contributing editor at both the Weekly Standard and the New Republic.

Recent Work

In The Media
Why Egypt Has To Be The U.S. Priority In The Middle East
- Michele Dunne, Robert Kagan
Commentary
U.S. Policy Toward Egypt—A Primer on the Upcoming Elections
- Robert Kagan, Michele Dunne

Foreign Policy North America United States 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 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary
Emissary
The U.S. Has Weapons in Space. Now What?
The acknowledgment has sparked fears of a new arms race with China and Russia.
Chris O’Meara
Paper
What Canada Knows About American Power
Smaller powers cannot go it alone, but Canadian history shows that integration with the United States will not always be benign.
Paul Samson
Commentary
Strategic Europe
Taking the Pulse: Can the EU Stare Down China on Trade?
The European Commissioner for Trade is headed to China. But after President Xi’s bridge-building visit to Washington, can a more isolated EU overcome Beijing’s stranglehold on critical raw materials? Who will blink first?
Rym Momtaz, ed.
Commentary
Emissary
Trump Had the Chance to Address U.S.-China AI Safety. He Threw Xi a Party Instead.
The summit may be remembered as a fatal blunder, when Washington, Beijing, and the AI industry collectively chose ceremony over action.
Jeffrey Prescott
Article
Separable, not Separate: Governing Europe’s Collective Defense
European NATO countries are wrestling with the possibility of U.S. disengagement from the alliance. With the continent’s security increasingly uncertain, governments must restore the credibility of their collective defense.
Hans-Dieter Lucas, Adam Thomson, Pierre Vimont

Russia May Be Trying to Flex Muscles

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary

Emissary

The U.S. Has Weapons in Space. Now What?

The acknowledgment has sparked fears of a new arms race with China and Russia.

Chris O’Meara

Blue Water Bridge with Flags of USA and Canada

Paper

What Canada Knows About American Power

Smaller powers cannot go it alone, but Canadian history shows that integration with the United States will not always be benign.

Paul Samson

Commentary

Strategic Europe

Taking the Pulse: Can the EU Stare Down China on Trade?

The European Commissioner for Trade is headed to China. But after President Xi’s bridge-building visit to Washington, can a more isolated EU overcome Beijing’s stranglehold on critical raw materials? Who will blink first?

Rym Momtaz, ed.

Trump holding a glass of champagne up in a toast, with a table of guests in the foreground

Commentary

Emissary

Trump Had the Chance to Address U.S.-China AI Safety. He Threw Xi a Party Instead.

The summit may be remembered as a fatal blunder, when Washington, Beijing, and the AI industry collectively chose ceremony over action.

Jeffrey Prescott

Article

Separable, not Separate: Governing Europe’s Collective Defense

European NATO countries are wrestling with the possibility of U.S. disengagement from the alliance. With the continent’s security increasingly uncertain, governments must restore the credibility of their collective defense.

Hans-Dieter Lucas, Adam Thomson, Pierre Vimont