Georgia

Georgia

Medvedev 2

September 2008
Boris Kagarlitsky

Russia’s victory over Georgia in the armed conflict in South Ossetia, the diplomatic maneuvers which followed the conflict and showed that the Western community cannot (and does not want to) oppose Russia in a serious way, and Dmitry Medvedev’s bold statements at the Valdai International Discussion Club make the President of Russia ‘a hero of the day’. Some time ago it was difficult for Dmitry Medvedev to show his real worth, but today his importance as a strong state leader is beyond any doubt.

Fallout from the Georgian war

September 2008
Boris Kagarlitsky
By defeating Georgia and showing that Washington was unable to defend its own ally, Russia humiliated the US in front of the whole world for which they will try and take revenge.

Fortunately, the Russia-Georgia war was short-lived, but its repercussions will be felt for quite a long time. By defeating Georgia and showing that Washington was unable to defend its own ally, Russia humiliated the United States in front of the whole world.

While U.S.

How to quarrel with a neighbour

September 2008
Boris Kagarlitsky
It seems that after the conflict with Georgia all we need is to clash with Ukraine. A lot of politicians both in Russia and Ukraine would definitely like it to happen.

The public statements made by Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, whom the status of the Ukrainian city of Sevastopol gives no rest at all, are unlikely to surprise or really offend anybody – everyone has already got accustomed to such declarations.

Blame capitalism, not Medvedev

September 2008
Boris Kagarlitsky

Whenever a writer promises to "reveal the truth behind recent events," he usually digs up the latest conspiracy theory or divulges "inside information" that explains how key decisions were made. Unfortunately, I am not a big fan of conspiracy theories, nor am I privy to any secret negotiations between the Kremlin and the White House. Nevertheless, I am convinced that we should interpret the fundamental reasons behind the present U.S.-Russia confrontation much differently than the way the media have portrayed it.

Yes, Russia clashed with Georgia.

Bad habits are contagious

September 2008
Boris Kagarlitsky

Georgia has resolutely condemned Russia’s actions in Chechnya. Russia has severely criticized NATO actions towards Serbia.

Later on the Georgian authorities tried to do the same thing in South Ossetia as the Russian authorities had done in Chechnya. Moscow decided to treat Georgia in the same way as NATO had treated Serbia. Bad habits are contagious.

The Georgian dogs of August - or shmucks of our time

August 2008
Saul Landau

Stupid leaders interpret words to satisfy their political desires. They miss vital nuances in dangerous international relations. On August 7, Mikheil Saakashvili ordered Georgia's armed forces to invade South Ossetia, a secessionist province bordering Russia. In so doing, he joined other heads of state who won dunce caps with disastrous decisions based on failure to understand the obvious.

Georgia's President apparently counted on US backing, albeit his "good friend" George W. Bush had not explicitly promised to send US forces if needed.

Assessing the Georgian crisis

August 2008
Richard Falk
The confrontation over South Ossetia represents a collision of US and Russian geopolitical logics which poses great dangers for regional and world peace, as well as to the wellbeing of the peoples of the world.

After delays, the Russian promise to withdraw its military forces from Georgia seems to be taking shape. By the terms of the French-brokered ceasefire Russian troops will remain in South Ossetia, plus occupy a security belt of undisclosed width in South Ossetia. The situation remains fluid and far from resolved.

The miscalculation of small nations

August 2008
TNI
Fred Halliday
The Russia-Georgia war emphasises the need for a nuanced understanding of international politics that recognises the autonomy of local agents, says Fred Halliday.

The brief and vicious war between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia has killed an untold number of people and displaced and traumatised many thousands more; promised a lengthy and abrasive aftermath; postponed even further the prospects of a settlement over this and the region's other territory lost to Georgia's control in the early 1990s, Abkhazia; created new enmities as well as poisoning existing ones; and planted

Russia's Upside in the Georgia Conflict

August 2008
Boris Kagarlitsky
Fortunately, the Russia-Georgia war was short-lived, but its repercussions will be felt for longer. By defeating Georgia and showing that Washington was unable to defend its own ally, Russia humiliated the United States in front of the whole world.

While U.S. officials and the global media criticized Russia for its "unforgivable" conduct in invading South Ossetia and Georgia, most of the world was filled with delight: At last, someone put high-handed Americans in their place. Against the background of anti-U.S. sentiment during President George W.

The US and Russia: the limits of a superpower

August 2008
Boris Kagarlitsky
The war between Russia and Georgia has shown the US that its power and influence in the region is limited, but it has also fed the Russian imperialist agenda in the Caucasus, writes Boris Kagarlitsky

Internationally the war is a big blow for the US, at least in Central Europe and the Caucasus. It has suddenly shown that the influence and control of the sole superpower is limited. There are situations when the superpower cannot protect its client states such as Georgia.

But this is a difficult situation for the left in Russia because there is no side to sympathise with.