[SNN] Putin and the mythical empire — RT Op-Edge

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http://rt.com/op-edge/159796-putin-empire-ukraine-west/


Putin and the mythical empire


 

Opinion pieces by Peter Lavelle, the host of RT's shows CrossTalk and On the 
Money, who was also the anchor of the review programme In Context and the 
commentary series IMHO. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin (RIA Novosti/Michael Klimentyev)

Western media, following the “bullhorns of propaganda” resident at the White 
House and State Department, assumes Putin is bent on re-building the Russian 
and/or Soviet Union. This is assumed to be true because the “bullhorns of 
propaganda” say it’s true.

There is never any evidence cited or even a coherent analysis provided to back 
up this claim. Needless to say, this mindless approach to foreign policy – if 
it can be called that – ends with car wrecks on someone else’s turf, in this 
case Ukraine. I submit a completely different and actually very simple 
interpretation of Putin’s foreign policy. It has nothing to do with an empire 
and everything to do with respect of ethnic Russians and democratic rights. 

Putin has no interest in rebuilding the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was an 
incredible net economic loss for Russia and Russians. In this century, Russia 
correctly sees an empire as too costly, politically risky, and importantly at 
odds with international law. Since the advent of the Putin presidency, the 
Kremlin has demonstrated it will make smart trade deals with its immediate 
neighbors, but outright subsidies are to be avoided. (Russia’s overly generous 
approach toward Ukraine since 1991 is a partial exception – trade relations 
with Kiev have always been complicated by Russia’s important trade relationship 
with Europe). 

Putin’s ‘near abroad’ foreign policy is about people and principles. The day 
the Soviet Union came to an end, millions of ethnic Russians suddenly found 
themselves in a country that was not their own. Putin is addressing this 
painful historical wrong. And it is a very important domestic issue among 
Russians at home. 

The West likes to consider itself to be above all others due to its 
self-proclaimed superior values. This includes values of the right to 
self-determination. However, these are only often words. Ethnic Russians in the 
Baltic states frequently see themselves as being treated as second-class 
citizens within the European Union. They are discriminated against on the basis 
of language and even cultural values. In Georgia in 2008, they were violently 
assaulted in South Ossetia. Russia was forced to intervene militarily to 
protect lives, including those of Russian citizens and internationally 
recognized peacekeepers. In Ukraine, the same is happening, though on a 
horrific scale and supported (again) by the West. 

 

RIA Novosti/Alexei Druzhinin

Putin’s agenda is not to change present borders. (Crimea is of course an 
exception. It should not have been “given” to Ukraine during the Soviet period 
on a whim, over the heads of the people there). What Putin wants is to have 
ethnic Russians on the other side of the border given the same rights of the 
majority population. This includes a say in both domestic and foreign policies. 
For example, any government in Ukraine must take into account the opinion of 
ethnic Russians when joining any military alliance. The US State Department 
should not be the entity to decide this along with their illegally imposed 
regime in Kiev. 

Putin’s approach also includes respect for the cultural values of Russians 
abroad. For the most part, Russians are culturally and socially conservative. 
This includes respect for the traditional family unit and reverence for the 
sacrifices made during the Great Patriot War. Many Western cultural and social 
values remain alien to many among the Russian population. Said differently: 
Russia and the West are moving further and further away from each other because 
of discernible cultural and social differences. 

The current leadership in Russia is not consumed by ideological determinism 
like in the West. Putin’s worldview is informed by realities found inside 
Russia and along its borders. Russia’s foreign policy in fact is status quo 
orientated and risk averse. That cannot be said about the West, particularly 
Washington. 

The West assaults country after country in the world in the name of democracy 
and so-called universal freedoms. This is a lofty mission in name only. 
Washington’s neo-liberal economic agenda has no place for values or national 
pride. It is a neo-colonial agenda to forward the greed of the few who have 
captured the political process and the West’s media echo chamber. 

Vladimir Putin disagrees. Putin’s empire is of the mind and is found among the 
people who look to him to express their values. 

Peter Lavelle is host of RT's political debate program 'CrossTalk' and monthly 
business program 'On the Money.' His views are his own and not necessarily 
those of his employer. 

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of 
the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.


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