Russia in Global Affairs

Proceeding from their current interests, more powerful countries often ignore the fact that, as a rule, there is no right or wrong party in domestic conflicts and civil wars; indeed, the responsibility often lies with both sides.

From the standpoint of peace prospects, the outcome of the end of the Cold War was quite acceptable for Russia. It is an entirely different matter as to how the opportunities for peaceful Russian-Western cooperation that opened up in the early 1990s were used and what has taken us to the crisis of 2014.

Proceeding from their current interests, more powerful countries often ignore the fact that, as a rule, there is no right or wrong party in domestic conflicts and civil wars; indeed, the responsibility often lies with both sides.

Russia can be deservedly proud that it achieved its main goals in 1992-1994. The methods employed were almost exclusively peaceful, despite attempts by both parties to drag Russia into the confrontation. By all standards, national reconciliation in Tajikistan remains a landmark event in the modern history of Russian diplomacy.

It is becoming increasingly obvious
that decisions made by the end of the Cold War still shape the international situation. Since there is not much optimism about the current state of affairs in the world, there are many discussions as to whether politicians missed some rare chances at that time. In its actions toward Gorbachev in 1989-1991, the U.S.
administration was guided by the rule “Give nothing, take everything, demand more.”

Today, thirty years after the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, one can state that the OSCE has not become – and will now hardly become – a major factor in building a European security system. This organization needs modernization that would suit all the participating nations.

The former Cold War enemies are still more preoccupied with a tug-of-war between themselves than with combating the new threats. How many more times will we repeat the same mistakes in choosing our priorities?

The world is becoming less and less governable as globalization is superimposed on another tectonic historical shift, the disintegration of the former system of international relations. If humankind is to meet the challenges of the 21st century, it must develop a universal code of behavior.