What We Can Learn About Russia

{
  "authors": [
    "Sam Greene"
  ],
  "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": [
    "North America",
    "United States",
    "Caucasus",
    "Russia"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Foreign Policy"
  ]
}

In The Media

Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

What We Can Learn About Russia

Unlike what has recently been alleged, the world is not experiencing a new Cold War. Today’s chill in U.S.-Russia relations rests on Russia’s belief that what is good for the West is inherently bad for Russia. Jumping headlong into a confrontation would be a bad idea though for the West. Instead, Western leaders should show that we can gain more from partnership.

By Sam Greene

Published on Aug 26, 2008

Source: Forbes.com

Sam Greene notes in an article for Forbes.com that there are several lessons that the West can take away from observing Russia’s reaction to the Russia-Georgia crisis. First, it has become evident that little has changed in Russia with the arrival of the country's new president, Dmitry Medvedev. Additionally, the weakness of Russia's non-military foreign policy tools have also been made more pronounced. Finally, it has also become clear that the Kremlin has a fundamentally different understanding of how the world works, one that's grounded in an extreme realpolitik that views international relations as a zero-sum game. In this view, trust is a worthless commodity, compromise can bring no added value and a premium is placed on tactical victories.

However, what has also come out of this conflict is that unlike what has recently been alleged, the world is not experiencing a new Cold War. Rather than an attempt to impose its political system on others, today’s chill in U.S.-Russia relations rests on Russia’s belief that what is good for the West is inherently bad for Russia. The West, though, should resist the temptation to jump headlong into a confrontation with Russia. Instead, Western leaders should show that we can gain more from partnership rather than a renewed standoff.

Click here to read the full article

About the Author

Sam Greene

Former Deputy Director for Operations, Moscow Center

Sam Greene was a deputy director for operations at the Moscow Center. He joined the Moscow Center in 2005. Previously, he was senior media program advisor for the New Eurasia Foundation, and a London and Moscow correspondent for FT Business.

Recent Work

Other
Russia in Mid-2011
- +1
  Dmitri Trenin, Sergei Aleksashenko, Sam Greene, …
In The Media
Mr. Medvedev, Mr. Putin, Beware the Ides of March!
- Sam Greene

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 Russia Eurasia Center

Research
Escaping an Escalatory Spiral: Can Europe Avoid a War With Russia?
Nobody in the Kremlin fancies a fight with the whole European continent. Instead, the Russian leadership would be likely to opt for a short, targeted strike.
Maksim Samorukov
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
How Are Russian Banks Posting Record Profits Amid Economic Stagnation?
Russia’s banking sector is sinking ever deeper into a crisis that the authorities are simply managing rather than trying to fix.
Alexander Kolyandr, Alexandra Prokopenko
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
By Waging War on Its Sovereignty, Putin Has United Ukraine
The war does threaten Putin’s existence. That is why he does not negotiate.
René Nyberg
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Red Sea Mirage: Why Russia Is Still Waiting on a Military Base in Sudan
Russia’s coveted Red Sea naval base has fallen victim to its erratic foreign policy.
Sergey Konyashin
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Deportation of Russian Propagandist Reveals Battle Over Church Influence in the Balkans
Mikhail Zvinchuk’s detention could have dealt a serious blow to Russia’s propaganda infrastructure in the Balkans. Instead, the incident has made something else eminently clear: Moscow values and protects its propagandists, while Europe still hasn’t figured out what to do with them.
Ivan Filippov, Ksenia Luchenko

What We Can Learn About Russia

More Work from Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

Research

Escaping an Escalatory Spiral: Can Europe Avoid a War With Russia?

Nobody in the Kremlin fancies a fight with the whole European continent. Instead, the Russian leadership would be likely to opt for a short, targeted strike.

Maksim Samorukov

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

How Are Russian Banks Posting Record Profits Amid Economic Stagnation?

Russia’s banking sector is sinking ever deeper into a crisis that the authorities are simply managing rather than trying to fix.

Alexander Kolyandr, Alexandra Prokopenko

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

By Waging War on Its Sovereignty, Putin Has United Ukraine

The war does threaten Putin’s existence. That is why he does not negotiate.

René Nyberg

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Red Sea Mirage: Why Russia Is Still Waiting on a Military Base in Sudan

Russia’s coveted Red Sea naval base has fallen victim to its erratic foreign policy.

Sergey Konyashin

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Deportation of Russian Propagandist Reveals Battle Over Church Influence in the Balkans

Mikhail Zvinchuk’s detention could have dealt a serious blow to Russia’s propaganda infrastructure in the Balkans. Instead, the incident has made something else eminently clear: Moscow values and protects its propagandists, while Europe still hasn’t figured out what to do with them.

Ivan Filippov, Ksenia Luchenko