Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Western Europe badly needs a new relationship with Russia - and not simply because of a shared interest in the fight against terrorism. Equally important is the fact that new US priorities may lead to a significant diminution of American interest in the Balkans and parts of the former Soviet Union.
Ten years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the cold war, it is striking how many remnants of that era remain. Partly as a result of Russia's slow progress in becoming a "Western" country, European and American leaders are reconsidering the kind of relationship they wish to cultivate with Russia.
Focusing on Russia's three top leaders since 1985, this book examines their goals, evolving ideas, styles of rule, institution-building, and impacts on policy.
Immediately after the terrorist attack on New York and Washington, President Putin made a statement about giving America political and moral support. Now, on the eve of America's anti-terrorist response, the Russian leadership faces a serious choice-either to go into battle along with the Americans, or cool its heels on the sidelines. The stakes are extremely high.
The US is the target of a serious act of war. In the short term, fierce unilateral American action is necessary to punish the perpetrators. But in the longer term, a continuation of American unilateralism would be a mistake. The real threat to the world order comes not from states, but from below - combating terrorism has to involve economic and social programs, not simply military strikes.
The development of Russian energy exports is not driven by geopolitical considerations, as many believe; instead they correspond to companies' strategies of profit-maximization. This pattern of "the flag following the trade" can be observed in each of the three energy sectors--electrical power, oil, and gas--and across all regions where Russian firms play a key role.
