Politics as War
The Radicalisation of Putinism
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
By annexing the Crimea and fomenting war in the Donbass, Russia is pursuing a policy bent on destruction. Its calculation that the West fears a complete break more than Russia has largely born fruit. This policy stems from situational decisions and is an expression of the internal radicalization of the Putin regime. Russia’s leadership wants above all to gain recognition for the status it claims; ideology plays a subordinate role. For a new Russia policy, this means the European Union must put much more effort into the stabilisation and democratisation of Ukraine than it has so far. This would include participation in a robust international mission to secure the Ukrainian border. Such a step would rob Russia of its dominance in escalating the conflict. At the same time, arms control talks with Russia must be taken more seriously.
(Osteuropa 9-10/2014, pp. 79–96)