Dmitry Orlov, a Russian-American engineer and writer, is one of the blogosphere’s (cluborlov.com) most perceptive and intelligent observers of geopolitics, especially those concerning Russia. The US government is hell-bent on turning Russia into a pariah state (see “Trust Us,” SLL, 1/12/15) and driving Vladimir Putin from power. As is usually the case when the US decides to make an enemy, those making that decision understand very little about the enemy-to-be. Orlov makes a strong case that the US’s current push against Russia betrays a complete misunderstanding of the Russian character, is doomed to failure, and ultimately will strengthen that nation.
Recent events, such as the overthrow of the government in Ukraine, the secession of Crimea and its decision to join the Russian Federation, the subsequent military campaign against civilians in Eastern Ukraine, western sanctions against Russia, and, most recently, the attack on the ruble, have caused a certain phase transition to occur within Russian society, which, I believe, is very poorly, if at all, understood in the west. This lack of understanding puts Europe at a significant disadvantage in being able to negotiate an end to this crisis.
Whereas prior to these events the Russians were rather content to consider themselves “just another European country,” they have now remembered that they are a distinct civilization, with different civilizational roots (Byzantium rather than Rome)—one that has been subject to concerted western efforts to destroy it once or twice a century, be it by Sweden, Poland, France, Germany, or some combination of the above. This has conditioned the Russian character in a specific set of ways which, if not adequately understood, is likely to lead to disaster for Europe and the world.
To continue reading: http://www.cluborlov.com
