The first thing to understand about what’s happening in Ukraine is that Ukraine is a democracy, and has done nothing to deserve this. Right now, in our world, an aggressive, authoritarian Russian government is invading its democratic neighbor. This is criminal, and there will be no justice unless Putin and his oligarch friends are put in prison.
When I was a bit younger, Americans seemed to think that the great evils of history were defeated. But greed and corruption will not go gently into that good night. Anti-democratic forces are rising in Asia, in Europe, and in America.
The second thing to understand about what’s happening in Ukraine is that Russia is a fundamentally insecure political entity, and Ukraine is a source of its insecurity.
Ukraine is in a precarious position for two reasons. One reason is that Ukraine is a fertile area, like the American heartland. This is a valuable resource (a resource that Hitler and Stalin both envied, and that Hitler opined for in Mein Kampf). Putin would love full control of this ‘bread basket.’
Another reason Ukraine is in a precarious position is that Ukraine is flat, and it is relatively easy for horses (in Napoleon’s case) or tanks (in Hitler’s case) to traverse from a European country right across Ukraine to Moscow’s doorstep. Putin likes the idea of NATO or the EU in Ukraine about as much as Kennedy liked the idea of Russian missiles in Cuba. It’s just too close to home.
This makes Ukraine’s future difficult. It could be a very nice democratic European country if it was left to its own devices. But the more European it becomes, the more Russia sees it as a threat.
The EU’s recent move to provide arms to Ukraine is a huge strategic decision for the reasons I just discussed (ie an insecure Russia sees European force projection in Ukraine as inherently aggressive). If by some miracle Ukraine continues to hold out, it could make Putin feel he is in a quagmire and look for a way to save face.
But the EU’s bold move could also cause Putin to double-down and portray the EU’s decision as evidence that he was right to invade in the first place. If Putin backs down he'll appear vulnerable domestically, and he fears that more than any sanctions.
Russia’s history has been one of alternating expansion and implosion. It pushes its influence outward because of its insecurity, and that is difficult to sustain over the long haul. But the long haul can be a generation or more. There are some historical movements that could help Putin maintain its expansion, as the Soviet Union did for a generation. What does the criminal Russian government have going for it?
- Doubts about democracy. Hey, I don’t have doubts about democracy. But I have doubts about whether democracy is a unifying value like it was after World War II. We are still the nation of Truman and Eisenhower, but we're also the nation of Trump.
- Oil and gas. Countries with sources of concentrated wealth like oil are perfect for authoritarians. The oil and natural gas Russia produces keeps the cash flowing to Putin and his cronies, and more than one European country will struggle mightily through the winter without Russian energy. If the Europeans aren't buying, China will be thrilled to get that energy at a discount.
I recently read Prisoners of Geography, and I recommend it to you. It's a straightforward explanation of geopolitical determinism, which is important to understanding how we and other nations behave.
If you’re interested in learning more about Putin and his history of corruption, check out the videos of Alexei Navalny. Putin had Navalny poisoned and later imprisoned as a consequence of Navalny’s journalism and political activity. This particular video is real long, but it's actually pretty entertaining.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_tFSWZXKN0
I’m a fan of Timothy Snyder’s work, and he’s got lots of YouTube videos out there talking about the history of Eastern Europe and Putin’s philosophy. I recommend his book On Tyranny, which is an easy read. I recommend his book Black Earth, which is not an easy read. If you’re interested in trying to help Ukraine directly, the list of links below are from Tim Snyder's newsletter.
As with any other issue, directly contacting your elected officials is an important way to influence US policy. I believe our opposition to Putin’s aggression should be strong, sustained, and active.
One of the best things we can do is support democracy here in our own back yards. Support free and convenient access to the vote for all Americans. Oppose political gerrymandering. Be suspicious about the influence of money in politics. Don’t look at countries like Russia and think “that could never happen here.” Instead, look for ways to safeguard our democracy here and now.
Links for help, via Tim Snyder’s newsletter:
NGO that arranges life-saving equipment for Ukrainian soldiers: https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate
Hospitallers working at the frontline: https://www.facebook.com/hospitallers/posts/2953630548255167
Ukrainian Women’s Veteran Movement: https://www.uwvm.org.ua/?page_id=3437&lang=en
NGO that assists internal refugees: https://unitedhelpukraine.org/
NGO that assistants internal refugees, especially from Crimea: https://www.peaceinsight.org/en/organisations/crimea-sos/?location=ukraine&theme
NGO that aids traumatised children: https://voices.org.ua/en/
Foundation that assists healthcare and education in eastern Ukraine: https://razomforukraine.org/projects/zhadan/
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