What If the West Is Wrong About Russian Collapse?

There is a strange quiet around European diplomats these days. The looming possibility of a collapsing Russia adds to the kind of quiet you hear before a monsoon breaks in Karachi. People speak softly in corridors, lower their voices at conferences and pretend the future is still predictable. I keep thinking about that silence because it hides two fears that cannot exist together. One fear is old. The fear of a strong Russia. The other fear is new. The fear of a collapsing Russia. And the more I read arguments from Ukrainians, Western analysts and even retired soldiers, the more … Continue reading What If the West Is Wrong About Russian Collapse?

The Dangerous Fantasy of a Collapsing Russia

A strange temptation has crept into Western conversations. You hear it whispered at conferences, hinted at in newspaper columns, and shouted outright in comment threads. Some people want Russia to fall apart. They imagine borders tearing, regions breaking away, the Kremlin reduced to rubble, and an exhausted country finally punished for its wars. It sounds cathartic. It feels like justice. Yet the fantasy of a collapsing Russia is far more dangerous than people admit. It is also built on emotion, not memory. Why a Collapsing Russia Terrifies Europe More Than a Strong One Whenever someone says they want Russia to … Continue reading The Dangerous Fantasy of a Collapsing Russia