The Long Telegram 2.0: A Neo-Kennanite Approach to Russia

Eltsov, Peter

ISBN 10: 1793602409 / ISBN 13: 9781793602404

Editore: Lexington Books, 2022

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Codice articolo 18396233235

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: The Long Telegram 2.0: A Neo-Kennanite Approach to Russia
• Editore: Lexington Books
• Data di pubblicazione: 2022
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 1793602409
• ISBN 13: 9781793602404
• Rilegatura: Brossura
• Condizione: New

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

The Long Telegram 2.0: A Neo-Kennanite Approach to Russia lays out an original argument for understanding Russia that goes deep into its history, starting with the tri-partite dictum “orthodoxy, autocracy, nationality,” formulated in 1833 by count Sergey Uvarov. The author explores Uvarov’s triad in the context of modern Russia, adding five more traits: exceptionalism, expansionism, historical primordialism, worship of the military, and glorification of suffering. The author argues that, as presently constituted, Russia cannot become a democracy, and, sooner than later, it will disintegrate, replicating the fate of the Soviet Union. The key reasons for these, according to the author, are: weak mechanisms for the transition of power, poorly developed institutions of the state, feeble economy and education, frail ideology, and, most importantly, the lack of a unified national identity.

Following this assessment, the author defines a strategy for dealing with Russia, based on a combination of offensive realism and realpolitik, recommending that the West copes with Russia in a more pragmatic manner. The book includes the author’s translation of a unique historical document from the 1860s: a pamphlet calling for the independence of Siberia on the example of the American revolution.

Informazioni sull?autore

Peter Eltsovis assistant professor of international security affairs at National Defense University.