Russia's Foreign Policy and Eurasianism

RUSSIA'S FOREIGN POLICY AND EURASIANISM

Dmitry Shlapentokh:9/02/05A

EurasiaNet Commentary

Recent developments in Central Asia -- with Russian geopolitical influence again rising, while US power in the region wanes - stand to invigorate a long-running debate over the philosophical foundation of the Kremlin's foreign policy. The turn of events could breathe new life into so-called Eurasianists, who argue that Russia has a unique identity and should thus embark on a development course apart from the West.

Since the Soviet collapse in 1991, Russian academics and policy-makers have struggled to develop a concept that could guide Russia's revival. Westernizers and Eurasianists have played prominent roles in the ongoing debate. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Eurasianism as a political philosophy was first advanced by leading Russian йmigrй thinkers in the 1920s, including Nikolai Trubetskoi and Pyotr Savitsky. Today, the concept remains ill-defined - a hodge-podge of themes that have guided Moscow's development over the centuries. Inherent in Eurasianist thinking are notions of benevolent imperialism, Orthodox messianic qualities and a belief that a "third way" of economic development is possible - a path between capitalism and communism. In addition, there is a vital geographical component to Eurasianism, dictating that Russia should control the Eurasian heartland, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Critics of the Eurasianist ideal say that its proponents are selective in their historical memory, tending to romanticize Tsarist Russia's imperial experience. Indeed, Russia's brutal behavior in Chechnya would seem to blow up the notion that Russia can act a benevolent leader of a cluster of states in search of a new development paradigm. Some say few differences separate Eurasianist thinking from the far-right ideology of National Bolshevism.

Modern-day Eurasianists, including Alexander Dugin, have steadfastly predicted that Russia and the US-led West are destined to clash. The two sides have "strictly opposing" interests, Dugin maintained in a June commentary published by the Argumenty i Fakty.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's stance towards Eurasianism remains murky. During Putin's first years in power there were high hopes among Eurasianists that he would steer Russia in a clearly Eurasian direction. After the September 11 terrorist tragedy, however, Putin pursued a moderate policy, Westernizing in its orientation, as the US rapidly expanded its strategic profile in Central Asia. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive].In 2005, however, the United States experienced a sudden geopolitical reversal in Central Asia, with regional leaders becoming wary, if not entirely distrusting of the US presence. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Underscoring the drastic decline of the United States' regional position was Uzbekistan's decision in late July to evict US military forces from an air base at Karshi-Khanabad. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Russia has rushed to fill the geopolitical vacuum in Uzbekistan, rapidly strengthening bilateral ties over the past year. Moscow is now considered Tashkent's chief political backer, as Uzbek President Islam Karimov seeks to stamp out all traces of democratization in the country. Russia's diplomatic success in Uzbekistan is raising hopes among Eurasianists that Putin's Kremlin will press a broad geopolitical offensive to push American forces out of Central Asia entirely, and virtually eliminate Washington's influence in the region. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Putin has offered evidence that he is again leaning in a Eurasian direction. During an August 26 celebration of the city of Kazan's 1,000th anniversary, Putin publicly praised Lev Gumilev, the historian and philosopher who is recognized as a founder of the modern Eurasianist movement.

At this time, when it appears that Eurasianist thinking is again on the ascendancy in Moscow, it is worthwhile to take a closer look at the ideological foundation of Eurasianism. The concept has been marginalized in Western scholarship, as there are no English-language books on Eurasianism currently in print.Meanwhile, there has been a steady stream ofbooks on Eurasianism, and related topics, published in various parts of the former Soviet Union.

Two Russian-language books provide a good overview of Eurasianism and its evolution. They are Euraziistvo: Teoriia, Praktika/Sbornik Stati (Moscow, Artogeia Tsentr, 2001), and Eurasia: People and Myths, (Compiled and Edited by Sergei Panarin, Moscow: Natalis Press, 2003).

Eurasia: People and Myths draws on readings from an influential Eurasianist journal called Vestnik Evrazii. The articles included in the book cover a variety of subjects, and deal with all areas of the former Soviet Union, with particular attention paid to Central Asia and the Caucasus.One article by Vadim Tsymburskii is particularly useful in that it provides an excellent picture of how Eurasianism emerged.The article stands in contrast to most publications on the subject, which either condemn Eurasianism as a dangerous illusion or characterize it as a set of quasi-religious thoughts that are designed to pave the way for Russia's salvation.

In Tsymburskii's view, historical Eurasianism and, implicitly, associated political doctrines, is multi-faceted and has changed over time. He states that Eurasianism is not a uniquely