Global Focus

Return of the Russian Bear?

Russian Anon, Russian Federation, Wednesday 23 January 2008

Though one may regard Putin’s decision to re-inaugurate the former Soviet military parade as merely symbolic, it is certainly far from pure symbolism, and is the latest in former super-powers determined efforts to again be seen as a major player in the international sphere.

After years of decline, the Russian bear is certainly starting to grow the teeth of its former self. The economy is exhibiting strong economic growth as opposed to the shambles of the 90’s, the military slowly starting to turn into a competent modern force, with Putin confidently confronting the West in a variety of issues. Putin certainly doesn’t hide his fondness of Russia’s former Soviet glory, incorporating these symbols in order to forge a new Russian identity in an attempt to return to this past.

Increasingly, day by day, the new and confident Russia exudes itself on the international stage as super-power, although in reality it is far from being one. Nevertheless, Russia is certainly a major power, with massive energy resources and is increasingly influential in foreign policy. With this new found confidence, Russia is starting to bite back at what it sees as Western attempts to undermine this resurgence, chiefly in the form of the ABM treaty, and the expansion of NATO’s borders.
George Bush’s unilateral abolition of one of the key corner-stones of the cold war arms control (the ABM treaty) would not have raised a single eyebrow under Yeltsin – Putin is correct in seeing this as a potential threat to Russia. Although the interceptors to be stationed in Eastern Europe currently pose no threat to Russia’s ballistic missile capacity, the very silos stationed there are permanent, so you can never discount that one day the ABM’s stationed there would be effective enough to neutralise the Russian missile forces. In addition, NATO has been extremely aggressive in expanding into the former Soviet states, almost encircling Russia. Put it this way, the USA probably wouldn’t warm to the idea of having Warsaw Pact bases in Canada and Mexico !

So it would be a mistake to regard Putin as some tin pot dictator being elected by a largely ignorant Russian public who have misunderstood the concept of democracy. Only the insane would choose Yeltsin over Putin. The media likes to portray Putin as the ‘bad guy’ in Russian politics, but to state this is to ignore many truths. The first and former truth is that Putin is riding a wave of massive popular support due to the very dignity he has given the ordinary Russian.

Under Boris Yelstin (who we would like to state was a ‘true democrat’), the Russian economy collapsed, its navy rusted, its soldiers had to plant their own food, with the ordinary Russian losing all sense of dignity.

All this has changed under Putin, with the world now seeing a re-emergence of major international player. Whether the ‘Bear’ can grow its former teeth is something the world is keenly watching…