#8
Russian 'New Anti-Americanism' Due to Lack of US Economic Aid
Rossiyskaya Gazeta
8 April 2003
Article by political analyst Leonid Radzikhovskiy: "Discovering America"

After Putin "discovered America" -- explained that a US defeat is not in our national interests -- emotions miraculously subsided among the political elite. One by one politicians also began to "discover America -- since it had not proved possible to "undiscover" it. Public opinion at large right now is living in accordance with the following formula: "I love the dollar but I hate America" -- but this is of no major significance for real policy in our country.

Our relations with the United States, needless to say, have not been overly marred during the Iraq war -- "after all, this is just business, nothing personal." Relations will be restored, with roughly the same number of polite smiles and slaps on the shoulder and the back that there were before. But, regrettably, even before the war in Iraq started we did not have a more serious relationship.

And that is the main problem: We have no real alliance with the United States. Needless to say, they blame us for this, with our imperial inferiority complexes, anti-Americanism, and corruption and we blame them with their megalomania, Russophobia, and harsh egoism. And the most widespread argument against "one-sided concessions to America" is very simple: What do we get in return?! They will brazenly dupe us once again, "they will give us nothing," just as they gave us nothing after the breakup of the USSR and nothing even after 11 September for all their touching assurances of friendship.

The "new anti-Americanism" in Russia is based on this disillusionment, on this sense of US perfidy. This mood is not so much a throwback to the old Soviet propaganda as based on the straightforward market calculation that the United States owed Russia but it is not even thinking of repaying the debt! Needless to say, it is awkward to say bluntly that they "owe" us for our market reforms and democracy, nonetheless it was for them that we did all this, but... But, to tell the truth, what the hell, they do owe us!

The prevailing mood in our country is roughly as follows. The United States should be grateful to us if only for the fact that we have withdrawn from Eastern Europe, for the fact that it has remained the sole superpower. And in the humdrum world of the market "they should be grateful" is simplified to the straightforward "they owe us." I do not know how this debt should be expressed, in what figure. But I do know something else.

First, no capitalist country since 1945 has boomed economically and socially on its own. They have all been helped by the United States -- either directly (the Marshall plan for Europe and aid for Japan) or in the form of investment and technology (Southeast Asia, Mexico). The United States at least gave them the initial impetus.

Second, Russia has had no aid from the United States. That is how we ourselves feel although the facts do indicate differently -- there have, for instance, been IMF loans but they have been spent ineptly. The United States is definitely not to blame. Nevertheless our feeling is fundamentally correct. Clearly, US involvement in the Russian economy is infinitesimal, investment is derisively low, the level of trade is far lower than that of Russia with France, not to mention Germany.

This profound resentment with the United States is nurtured by the unassailable feeling that Russia does not have the economic miracle that we so need and without US involvement that cannot happen -- this is, regrettably, indicated by the experience gleaned by every country in the world! There are various theories as to why the Yanks do not want to come to our country.

The most flattering for us is that they are still afraid of us. They are afraid of a serious boom in Russia, which they see, despite everything, as their rival. Hence they are worried only by the safety of our nuclear installations and in all other respects they want economic and social stagnation to persist in Russia. (The craziest theory is that "they" want Russia to break into pieces -- and here the half-forgotten Brzezinski is invariably dragged into the limelight).

The less romantic theory is that it is commercially disadvantageous for them to invest money in Russia. This was articulated quite clearly in the well-known book entitled "Why Is Russia Not America?" The author's response is because we have long roads and a lousy climate. Like in the well-known song: "Swimming in Russia's rivers is cold, that is why it is an unattractive sight here." Extracting minerals in Russia costs more than in Iraq, say, so capital is not coming to our country. And if it is not coming, there is no point in hanging about waiting. I am omitting the positive program put forward by the author of the aforementioned book (namely, to shut ourselves off from the world with another Iron Curtain) in view of its obvious absurdity. Another point is interesting here, namely, that mineral extraction in our country is more costly than in Iraq -- the author (and many other patriots) have noted and loudly bemoaned this fact. But the fact that we have these minerals at all whereas Japan simply has none is considered self-evident.

That is, it is profitable for US capital to go to countries without major mineral reserves whereas it is unprofitable to go to Russia, which has a huge quantity of these minerals! A strange logic. What is even more strange is that it is easy to see that countries with minerals and a hot climate are developing countries whereas countries without these reserves (Europe) are developed countries. Thus, it is not a question of minerals alone...

Nevertheless both considerations are in part true. Undeniably, there is still wariness in the United States with regard to Russia. It is based on both ideological and mundane commercial factors (corruption, unclear rules of play, banditry). What is also true is that, for all the advantages of our country with its gigantic natural wealth and huge domestic market, there are other fish in the sea -- there are countries that are equally advantageous for injections of capital and technology.

What is the moral? In my opinion, it is obvious. It is time to recognize the wounding fact that we cannot drag ourselves by the hair into the ranks of modern industrial countries. Not because we are "stupid," "lazy," or "drunk," that is all rubbish, but simply because no one, no single country can work its way up on its own . and there are no other motive forces than the United States in this world Pax Americana. Germany, which is in the grip of a grave crisis, and the whole of the united Europe are unable to act as such a motive force. Thus, there is one conclusion, namely, we should discover America! And for that we need primarily to "open ourselves up to America." We have an obligation to become not just "courteous partners" -- that kind of pose is convenient and flattering for us but, regrettably, we cannot afford it. We must push, fight, and force our way into the ranks of their allies. Allies such as Britain -- the United States "unsinkable aircraft carrier." There is a basis for such an alliance today as there was in 1941 -- there is an enemy to oppose. The enemy is known to everyone, namely, international terrorism. It may be described as "Islamic" terrorism, that biting adjective may be omitted -- it does not change the crux of the matter. Why does the United States need this alliance? Because its main enemy is not in their country, not in NATO but cheek by jowl with Russia. Its main problems henceforth, for a long time to come lie in Asia, in the Near and Middle East (and it is better not even to think about the Far East!). If they need Turkey, how much more do they need Russia with its cold climate and bad roads!

And if we succeed in concluding such an alliance, then Russia has an obligation to convert its geopolitical, military, and diplomatic clout to its advantage -- convert it not into smiles but into real economic interest. I think that Putin could succeed in doing this -- he is a practical president, not a specialist in the "new thinking." It is just that a difficult decision needs to be taken. Having highlighted our main US priority, we need to "rush to the West" without looking behind us at every turn. That is how Japan and Germany have forced their way into the West. And that is how Russia can do the same -- if it realizes that there is no other option.

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