#7
Itogi
No. 11
March 2002
THIS IS THE ONLY WEST RUSSIA HAS
A strong policy with regard to the USA and Europe entails consistent rapprochement, rather than showy populist zigzags
By Leonid RADZIKHOVSKY

Russia is suffering from disillusionment in the USA. The short September wave of sympathy and hopes for "undying friendship" has long ebbed, giving way to irritation, resentment and criticism. Although it is not the whole of our foreign policy, but only parts of it that are criticised, the separate statements join to form a complete picture. Russia is pursuing a policy of unilateral concessions vis-a-vis the USA. And the more we back off, the more ruthlessly we are being pushed back. The examples are many, ranging from the "whipping" of our women skiers in Salt Lake City to the steel war, from the landing of US troops in Georgia to the list of nuclear targets that includes Russia. The conclusion is that we are repeating Gorbachev's policy of "new thinking," which ended ingloriously.

So, everything is clear with criticism. As for alternative suggestions, they are few - as usual. Or rather, there are none. What policy should Russia pursue with regard to the USA in each particular case? Relations with the USA and the West in general are the key issue of both the foreign and, most important, the domestic and economic policy of Russia. In fact, it is the fundamental question of the Russian political philosophy.

It should be said that Europe and the USA are two different things; there are contradictions between them, the West is heterogeneous, and so on. But our traditional hope of playing on these contradictions and becoming closer with the beloved Europe to spite the rough and arrogant Yankees is completely illusory.

The USA is both the roof and the engine of the Western world. No matter how irritated Europe may be with the USA, it will never openly clash with it, in particular over Russia. And one more thing: To send our brim-full cart moving, we need not only European but also American investments. In other words, trying not to see the USA while looking at the West is a hopeless enterprise.

So, how should we develop relations with the West?

In the past ten years these relations progressed and regressed, with a step made towards the West followed by the U-turn of Primakov's plane, after which another step was made towards the Wrest from the place where the premier ordered the plane turned back. There were more than enough things, adolescent-silly and serious ones, at which we took offence. In particular, no serious Western investments have been made in Russia in the past six months and ten years, while China and Brazil enjoyed their share. Russia has not been admitted to the WTO or invited to join NATO.

Instead, they are unceremoniously forcing Russia out of its traditional arms markets and pushing it back within the CIS. The Western liberals and democrats are tough guys. They can kick you under the table so hard - without spilling their cocktails or losing their smiles - that you will forget about new thinking.

All of this is true. But we must remember two things. First, this is the only West Russia has. And second, we will not rise to our feet without Western investments and a genuine integration into the Western economy. Or rather, we will be integrated into it as a raw materials appendage, with ruined science and technologies that are lagging further and further behind. Russia cannot pull itself out of the mire, even if it jerks at its hair with all its might. It can lose all its hair in the process but this will not help it get out of the bog. This is the bitter truth. It is for this reason, and not because of someone's ill will, that Russia had to turn back West after all of its U-turns - simply because there is nowhere to fly in the East.

So, what policy will be really strong? A policy that tries to please populist sentiments and makes senselessly threatening gestures at the USA, although we know that such gestures are ridiculous? Or a policy that accepts modern realities and moves West purposefully, trying not to make unnecessary zigzags? This policy without zigzags may be unpopular but it alone can yield good results.

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