14.06.2018, Washington.
Putin’s problem is his belief that Russia must become part of Europe, US economist and political observer Paul Craig Roberts wrote on June 13 in an article published at his website paulcraigroberts.org.
According to the observer, Putin still continues to believe that Russia must become part of Europe. The United States strengthened this belief during the Yeltsin period; and to this day, Russian economists and the Central Bank are still convinced that Russia cannot develop without the Wests’ participation.
“Putin accepts insults, provocations, […] and Israeli attacks on Syria […] in order to demonstrate to Europeans that Russia is not a threat. The European politicians simply don’t care [how Putin behaves ― Rossa Primavera News Agency].” “The West is saying that it is Russia’s independence that is destabilizing Washington’s world order. […] Putin cannot overcome this attitude toward Russia with concessions and reasonable behavior. […] Europe seems to be going by the script [given by Washington ― Rossa Primavera News Agency] regardless of how Russia behaves,” Paul Craig Roberts believes.
The American economist writes that, being a reasonable and humane person, Vladimir Putin is focused on avoiding conflict. However, Putin’s strategy might not work for two reasons:
― first, Europe has not had an independent existence for 75 years. “European countries do not know what it means to be a sovereign state. Without Washington European politicians feel lost, so they are likely to stick with Washington.”
― second, Putin continues to believe that Russia must be part of Europe. “Countries that open themselves to Western globalism lose control of their economic policy. […] It is remarkable that countries, such as Russia and China that wish to have independent policies rely on Western monetary and clearing mechanisms, thereby subjecting themselves to control by their enemies.”
The danger for Russia is that the desire to be part of the West results in concessions that encourage more provocations, and that the commitment to globalism undermines Russian economic sovereignty. Also, Putin’s patience encourages neoconservatives to employ more aggressive provocations and actions, which can result in Russia being backed into a corner, the observer believes.
Perhaps war could be avoided if Russia disengaged from the West and focused on integration with the East. “Sooner or later Europe would come courting,” Paul Craig Roberts added.
Paul Craig Roberts is a knight of the Legion of Honor, Chairman of the Institute for Political Economy, former Editor of The Wall Street Journal, former United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy of the Ronald Reagan’s administration, and author of books on economy and political science. He was awarded the US Treasury’s Meritorious Service Award for “outstanding contributions to the formulation of United States economic policy.”
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
