Well, it's official: my motherland has finally gone berserk -- or, at least, is giving the world a sense of overdue déja vú. To be honest, I'm not really surprised that Russia invaded Georgia. Rather, I'm surprised what took so long.
Although in international relations class back in the day I tended to be critical of the hard-line political "offensive realists", the liberalist theory of states' relations irritated me more often. I find myself torn between hoping for change, but I read the news every day and marvel at how history plays itself over and over. A better order may be out there, I think, the time might come, but -- but -- there's always a "but"! Why hasn't anyone -- anyone -- been able to figure it out?
Extreme as it may be, I've started to believe that even Mearsheimer, who I used to think was an aggressive nut, does have some valuable points. Number one of his points was that powerful states, like the US or Russia, can never know what the other's intentions really are. What each state does know is that it must defend (and by defend, I really mean expand) its sphere of influence in every sense available. Georgia pulled the bait a little too close, teasing a dangerous neighbor; but Russia wouldn't ever stand to have NATO at its borders. I've no doubts that just like the US invasion of Iraq, this invasion of Georgia is upheld by a shanty excuse while "hiding" another agenda: the recuperation of regional hegemony.
American troops in Central Asia... too close for comfort
A simple map showing Russia's "three fronts"
Ultimately, I still believe that everyone who thought the Cold War was over was kidding themselves. It may have thawed while the Soviet Union imploded, but Russia's back, the oil is there, and the socialist beast is now capitalist (which is worse?). As long as the US maintains its empire status, Russia will have a reason to flaunt its renewing strength, and -- more dangerously -- its Napoleonic complex.
If the international community threatens to expel Russia from the G8 or have the EU support sanctions against Moscow, I'll ask why they did not do this to Washington when the US flaunted its military on yet another "sovereign" country. Doesn't it take one aggressor to know one? I feel like this double standard, the outrage and calls for retribution, eggs Russian nationalism further. Nationalism these days is scary and dangerous. Frankly, I'm a firm believer that both the US and Russian administrations are entirely worthy of each other.
AND!
