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A VERY PRACTICAL APPROACH TO THE WEST
FYODOR LUKYANOV
South Korean and Singaporean models of de-
POLITICAL EXPERT velopment.
The third reason is historical. It is noteworthy
At the beginning of 2008, tensions between Rus- that Mr Medvedev referred to the modernisa-
sia and the West increased with each passing tion programmes adopted by Peter the Great
month, reaching a peak in August during and and Josef Stalin, both of which were based on
immediately after the Russia-Georgia war. This using the West as a reservoir. This approach ra-
year started with a gas confl ict between Russia tionalises relations with the West, lessens the
and Ukraine that greatly increased the West’s ideological and emotional components and re-
distrust of Moscow. That was followed by a duces them to a purely commercial basis. In his
gradual relaxation of tensions – a “reset” in re- “Go, Russia!” article, Mr Medvedev said: “The
lations with the administration of President Ba- issue of harmonising our relations with Western
rack Obama, a warming of relations with Nato, democracies is not a question of taste, personal
the European Union and Britain, greater co-op- preferences or the prerogatives of given politi-
eration with the West over Iran, a fl exible ap- cal groups.”
proach to Ukraine and a call to avoid a new Mr Medvedev has a feasible plan to base rela-
fl are-up over gas shipments. tions with Europe on business interests alone.
President Dmitry Medvedev articulated his Mr Putin’s recent visit to France, where officials
main foreign policy principles during the state- discussed a wide range of business deals, be-
of-the-nation address in November: “We must came a concrete illustration of Mr Medvedev’s
rid ourselves of our exaggerated sense of self- statements. Certain that profi ts are more impor-
importance.” He was equally direct when he tant than ideology for Western countries, Mr
said: “Instead of chaotic action dictated by nos- Medvedev said: “We know that our partners are
talgia and prejudice, we will carry out an intel- counting on a rapprochement with Russia to re-
ligent domestic and foreign policy based on alise their own priorities.” But betting on prag-
purely pragmatic aims.” matism requires that one condition be fulfi lled:
Mr Medvedev, who is fi rm in his belief that gov- the ability to guarantee the rules of the game.
ernment policies need to be more “pragmatic”, That can be called a stable investment climate
said the effectiveness of foreign policy “should if those guarantees are based on the rule of law.
be judged by a simple criterion: Does it contrib- The other option is authoritarian stability, and
ute to improving living standards in our coun- this is achieved through political agreements
try?” He ordered the government to “develop with members of the ruling circle.
clear criteria for assessing the results of Rus- But whatever hopes that Russia’s leaders might
sia’s foreign policy – one that is designed to meet hold, the lines between commerce, state bureau-
the challenges of modernisation and technolog- cracy and law enforcement continue to be
ical advances.” blurred. This makes it impossible to give inves-
But developing specifi c criteria for what con- tors any reliable guarantees. Even when West-
stitutes pragmatic government policies is com- ern corporations believe that they can still make
plicated, because the word “pragmatic” has a profi t despite the lack of legal guarantees, in-
never been clearly defi ned in political terms.
DRAWING BY DMITRY DIVIN
justices, such as the death of corporate lawyer
One passage of Mr Medvedev’s address refers Sergei Magnitsky, will cause many Western in-
back to an earlier speech and also sheds some vestors to think twice before they increase their
light on his understanding of pragmatism. He Soviet leaders. The task from the early Nineties the “intellectual resources of post-industrial so- Russian exposure.
said: “Our relations with other countries should until only recently has been the integration of cieties”. The task of making Russia an integral Russia’s reservoir philosophy is aimed at using
also be focused on the task of modernising Rus- Russia into the international community of de- part of that reservoir cannot be compromised the resources of the West to boost technologi-
sia… We are interested in capital infl ows, new veloped countries. In the mid-Nineties, Russia based on political factors. The political focus on cal and economic modernisation. The problem
technologies and innovative ideas.” Further, the was overly eager to join Western institutions on values, which until recently was the basis of re- is that it does not set social modernisation as
president said the results of diplomacy should their terms and conditions. And although Mos- lations with the West, has clearly ended. its goal. Russia needs social modernisation
be refl ected “not only in the form of specifi c as- cow’s policy toward the West changed signifi - The current shift in Russia’s foreign policy is the most of all – without which all attempts at
sistance to Russia’s companies abroad and ef- cantly during Vladimir Putin’s two presidential result of various factors. The fi rst is that Rus- achieving technological modernisation are
forts to promote national commercial brands… terms, the general goal of integration remained sia’s leaders are disappointed with the results bound to fail.
-
but it should also be designed to increase the consistent through the Boris Yeltsin and Putin of the last 15 years of efforts at integration.
volume of foreign investments we attract and… presidencies – at least up to the last year of Mr Second, shifts in the global economic balance Fyodor Lukyanov is editor of Russia in Global
the infl ux of new technologies.” Putin’s second term. has weakened the West’s monopoly on the Affairs.
There seems to be nothing new in these state- Mr Medvedev has referred to the West several world’s modernisation reservoir. For the fi rst
ments, and yet their tone differs from what we times as a rich source of investment and tech- time, the theme of modernisation is not tied ex- First published in
are accustomed to hearing from Russia’s post- nology – a “reservoir” from which Russia can tap clusively to Europe, but includes the Chinese, The Moscow Times
Letters to the Editor Questions?
Opinions?
On Afghanistan country, is still the only tenable way forward for probably fairly typical of most people here. I have
Mr Snegiryov is wrong on two counts. First (and the people of that unhappy land. great respect for the Russian people. I think Rus-
most important), Afghanistan is not unique: it, LOUIS GODENA sia is a great nation with a history to be proud of. We welcome letters to the editor, but reserve the
too, is moving into the 21st century, slowly and
UK
I do wonder, though, why there is not better co- right to edit for length and clarity. Please send
painfully shedding its feudal past. Taliban “sup- operation between East and West; why there ap- your comments by email (editor.uk@rg.ru)
port” is a natural reaction to the corruption of the More economic co-operation needed pears to be a lot of suspicion about the motives or fax (+44 207 504 3549), together with your
regimes which succeeded Najibullah. Its people There are tremendous economic benefi ts for both of the West. name, address and a contact telephone for
want a better life, which can only come through Britain and Russia but more so for Britain. With We ordinary people just want to live our lives in verifi cation. If you do not wish your name
modernisation and the shedding of its feudal-era Britain still bogged down in recession, Russia has peace and co-operation and believe most Rus- or email to be published, please indicate this
taboos. Second, Nato and its lackeys, including many areas that can take advantage of advanced sians feel the same. We worry about religious fa- clearly.
Karzai (he, unlike Najibullah, would not last out British technology. The French have been more natics and do not understand their agenda. We Once published, letters and guest columns
the week standing alone) are not there to improve aggressive in promoting their interests in Russia. want to help countries worse off than ourselves become the sole property of Rossiyskaya
the lot of ordinary Afghans but to pursue larger The recession in Britain will continue as long as to fi ght famine, disease and corruption. Gazeta. We do not publish anonymous let-
strategic goals, including securing energy re- British businessmen sit on their hands. We bear no ill will towards Russian people and ters, letters advocating extremism or con-
sources and creating a nexus of Turkish-style Is- OWEN LINDSAY would like to have closer relationships and share taining personal attacks, mass mailings or
lamic republics, friendly to Israel and the West.
UK
achievements for the good of all. We believe this commercial appeals. All articles and letters
In the long run, they cannot succeed. But the run planet will ultimately only survive if we all co- appearing on the opinion page do not nec-
can be long. And painful – for both Afghans and Treating Russia with respect operate and pull in the same direction. essarily refl ect the positions and views of
the rest of us. Communism, by and for the Af- I am an ordinary citizen who lives in the UK.Yo u ERIC the editors of Rossiyskaya Gazeta and Rus-
ghans, one which unites and modernises the may be interested in my view of Russia, which is UK sia Now.
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