Putin’s European Fifth Column
Putin rejects EU or NATO membership for neighboring states for Russia. “Indeed, the existence of a European model continues to guide and encourage those pursuing transparent, democratic governance in many post-communist countries,” explain three professors with the University of California at Berkeley in an essay for Project Syndicate. Russia’s intimidating authoritarianism has little appeal, and the best chance for Putin is Europe’s economic demise. To divide Europeans and weaken the Union, the Kremlin finances EU-skeptic candidates, including Marine Le Pen in France; conservative media companies; as well as academic think tanks and anti-fracking activism. Europe’s leaders must assess every policy proposal for its ability to strengthen the union or risk letting the region “be more exposed to Russian pressure and the temptations of Russian patronage.” – YaleGlobal
Putin’s European Fifth Column
Russian policies have little appeal unless Europe looks like a failure; the Kremlin funds EU-skeptics in politics, media and academia across the continent
Friday, February 27, 2015
Yuriy Gorodnichenko is Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. Gérard Roland is Professor of Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Edward Walker is Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, and Executive Director of the Berkeley Program in Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies.
http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/putin-strategic-ambition-by-yuriy-go...
© 1995 - 2015 Project Syndicate