US-Russia relations have historically been murky, and that may be because Russia itself is difficult to decipher. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said of the Soviet Union/Russia:
I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest.
Through the Cold War and the first part of the twenty-first century, America has struggled to understand this enigma, but has largely failed to account for Russian interests in the midst of that struggle. In this episode, Tim discusses the major themes and historical events that have been a part of US-Russia relations from decades.
Topics covered in this episode
- Russia’s centuries long quest for security.
- The major themes of Russian political culture: Nationality, Orthodoxy, and Autocracy.
- America’s tendency to overlook Russian security concerns.
- The clash of cultures as seen from Moscow.
- … and more!
Materials cited in this episode
Podcasts
Books and Articles
- Michael Mandelbaum, Mission Failure
- Alexander Lukin, “What is the Kremlin Thinking?” Foreign Affairs, May/June 2014
Film and Television
- Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy (YouTube)
- Ekaterina: The Rise of Catherine the Great (Amazon Prime)
Conversation starter
Can/should America ignore Russia and concentrate on China?
For an overview on US-China relations, check out Episode 15 of the TTP Podcast.
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