The History Behind Russia's Expansionary Foreign Policy with Stephen Kotkin | Policy Stories

Is Russia inherently imperialist and expansionist? Russia wasn’t forced to invade Ukraine, but its leaders chose to do so because they want Russia to become a great power. If Russian elites could somehow relinquish their unwinnable competition with the West, they could set their country on a less costly and more promising course.

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[shootera]

In other words, Russia needs to grow up.

[chrisc]

100% right. Joe Pesci is the best commentator on Russia. He really gets it.

[freeloader]

At least Kotkin understands Russia. There are bunch of "talking heads" who have no idea what Russia is.

[zaratustra]

Stephen Kotkin is great! I recommend to check his chat with Lex Fridmann.

[simongee]

Great historical wisdom from Stephen Kotkin

[Ffan]

From living with a Russian partner (who knows what a malignant force Putin is), after 10 years I have come to understand the Russian mentality. Great analysis by Kotkin. Spot on!

[zalman]

I try not to be arrogant and one-sided in my views, but I wonder how many of the many thousands of viewers thus far understood the details of what Mr Kotkin is saying. Not listened to them - but understood them.
I grew up in Stalin's shadow and in Russia's reach. The man is exactly right. That's not a solution, but it's a start.

[Erik-kolh]

I love playing Russia in computer games. Every direction is an enemy.

[coopoylozenge]

Worth catching up with Alex Stubb and Vlad Vexler. Along with Kotkin they cover the bases as regards the Russian problem. They are excellent analysts and communicators. We should listen with great care in the free world.

[johnlaudenslager]

I wish a Russian elite would accept the goal you advise: not trying to be a super power, but a healthy power like present day Germany, France, Britain, Japan, The Netherlands ...

[patrickmoriarty]

What a fine exposition of a complicated topic ~ well done Stephen

[susanparkhurst]

My favorite mind, my favorite speaker... I am reading his first of three Books on Stalin: "Stalin, Volume I: Paradoxes of Power, 1878-1928" and when the Third Volume is published this year I am sure it will win the Pulitzer Prize. Find any of his interviews on Youtube and enjoy his knowledge, his humor and his courteous approach to teaching us about Russian history, Eurasia and geopolitics.

[mrniceguy]

Kotkin is right that it is a choice…but why do they always seem to make the same choice? Not sure I agree that it isn’t innate to the culture if it always goes back to old habit s

[yossarianmnichols]

Peter the Great turned to Western Europe to modernize the country and the military. He was quite successful on all his borders. He built St Petersburg to increase trade with Europe.

[bobsnow]

Russia is a true mystery to those who live outside the borders of Russia, few understand Russia, but I have found in listening to and reading Stephen Kotkin someone who can tell Russia's story very much like Solzhenitsyn without having experiencing the Gulag system.

[mathiasbartl]

If you are a big country surrounded by smaller countries, there is a certain compulsion.

[jotsingh]

Compare that to the expansion of the USA or Great Britain? Where is the difference?

[shaun]

i was just about to say the uk was pretty open about the collapse of our empires, which was the greatest. i dont say this as a brag but as evidence its possible to manage the decline. the present decline of the UK as a power is just pure miss management but our soft power rules now, whereas Russia has nothing to offer culturally.

[jamesk]

screw their policy. I have a policy to be a billionaire by the time I'm 40 but I don't destroy my neighbors for it.

[mishagofman]

Listen to John Mearsheimer, Stephen Cohen, Henry Kissinger - totally different view!!!