Liberal illusions and the Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has upended many assumptions about the post-Cold War period in Europe; that another major war was not possible, that some combination of the European Union, NATO enlargement, and economic interdependence would usher in an era of enduring peace. HKS Professor Stephen Walt recently gave his thoughts on the crisis and the role the international community played leading up to it.
You can read more about the discussion at ken.sc/walt-ukraine.
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[@Linkacide]

The news media has been the worst asking for the U.S to “do more”, by way of a no fly zone. Or having NATO talk as if it’s on standby just waiting to pounce.

[@SectionSixteen]

I believe there are assasins "on standby" ready to assasinate Zelenskyy, if he were to agree to cede Crimea to Russia. Zelenskyy has no real power to negotiate, without forfeiting his life. This is why Israel offered him sanctuary. Ukraine is an amalgamation of factions that could turn on each other.

[@jonathonletts8972]

Iraq 2003..who stood with iraq?

[@michaelmisczuk1188]

The media is onboard for this war. Definitely. They support other lunatic and evil elements of the leftists, too.

[@fevgg]

I watch debates with Mcfaul and Sikorski. Thank you for your honest opinion. hope americans will open their eyes soon or later

[@barumbadum]

Walt is great...wehere can I find the full version?

[@Linkacide]

Full version plz

[@WorshipinIdols]

“Security is endangered” or “desires to go on an expansionist venture”.

[@yvonneyork1263]

Good point bringing up Iraq when talking about illegal invasions.

[@WorshipinIdols]

Iraq was not an illegal invasion no matter how you slice it. Saddam was under UN Security Council mandate to provide free and enfettered excess to sites of interest to international weapons inspectors. He totally reneged on this Mandate and expelled all inspectors. The US as a member of the Security Council had the obligation to enforce the UN’s mandate. Also, weapons of mass destruction inspection were a part of the Persian Gulf Aar cease fire agreement. So Saddam’s ceasefire of ‘91 was in default and he was legally in a state of war with the UN coalition again.

[@erenja3ger871]

@@WorshipinIdols let's assume you are right, it still doesn't look good for the US because of all the heinous things they did there that made the country worst. Israel has broken so many rules yet they let it do whatever and make lives worst and worst. It's obvious they only went after Iraq for their own selfish gains as they always do

[@rp3875]

Why the music

[@Madelro100]

Claro. Brilliant!!

[@SectionSixteen]

I agree. IMO, ground zero for this whole debacle is the naval base in Sebastopol. Russia will never relinguish that port. Russia will deploy nuclear armaments before it will allow the Ukranian army, or any army, to move south on the Crimean pennisula.

[@jeremygomes7189]

Boa análise.

[@trigoria7477]

I love the music

[@LunaticTheCat]

Allowing Russia to achieve some of their objectives in a negotiated peace would have disastrous implications for the security of all nations threatened by their autocratic neighbors.

[@MarxStevens]

They lost Bukhmat bro

[@LunaticTheCat]

@@MarxStevens Irrelevant

[@MarxStevens]

@@LunaticTheCat very relevant cope 👏 😂

[@LunaticTheCat]

@@MarxStevens Nope.

[@MarxStevens]

@@LunaticTheCat Cope.

[@sematic1]

unfortunately you make some good points,,,,,let's hope it's for the better

[@genenovak2717]

wow common sense from a Liberal

[@madmanmadlad2876]

he's a realist

[@BB-cf9gx]

Hard power will matter for the foreseeable future. Hard power costs money. All of Nato including the US, EU, as well as Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Korea etc. Need to increase defense expenditures to 4% of GDP. it's not the solution but it's a necessary tool to maintain peace through strength.

[@michaelmisczuk1188]

The US has gone woke. Recruitment is down and down, again.

[@yoppindia]

sane well rounded view, but no one will listen to him ☹.

[@marchowardsinisterexaggerator]

Get what they want? So basically your saying they're going to have to give up whatever to russia when ukraine didnt get into this by wanting anything. recalibrate your thinking.

[@SectionSixteen]

Right wing Ukranians, including one head of state, "wanted" to kick Russia out of the naval facilities in Sebastopol. That was the match that lit the conflagration. Russia built those facilities, which have been at Russia's disposal for over a century. When Ukraine became sovereign, it was agreed that Russia would continue to control that harbor. In exchange, Russia contributed economically to Ukraine (cheap fuel, loans.) Consider how the U.S. operates a naval facility in Guantanamo, Cuba, and maintains that it will not be forced out. What's the difference?

[@marchowardsinisterexaggerator]

@@SectionSixteen you ever wonder why

[@marchowardsinisterexaggerator]

@@SectionSixteen explain the other neighbors it's invaded if that's the reason why say Nazis and satanist

[@murimurimrui]

And.... what are you going to do about it? Imho, you should go to ukraine and fight the good fight. Show them russies your american superiority. Go ahead. Please.

[@marchowardsinisterexaggerator]

@@murimurimrui no not at all you think russians really want to fight in ukraine or someone i forcing them too hey we arent much better with that tool biden what a jerk he is too

[@offmeds2nite]

Stephen is a respectable professor but I find his takes on the Russia Ukraine crisis appalling.

[@karlstriepe8050]

Why? His argument is that Russia would have been less likely to invade Ukraine had not Germany and other European states done two things (1) dismantled their armies and (2) become dependent on Russian for their energy needs. He's a realist; this foreign policy ideology (in contrast to the "illusions" of liberalism) values state autonomy (meaning powerful military and energy independence) and balance of power and they think that dependency disrupts this balance, creating conditions of conflict. All of these assumptions can be questioned, of course, but he's claiming that what's happened in Ukraine supports those assumptions.

[@mirkovic]

I agree with you - the answer by Karl Striepe seems to ignore Germany's dependence on Russian energy - 50% that's is a lot

[@offmeds2nite]

@@mirkovic Actually, I was initially responding to Stephen’s statement in the full panel interview (looks like it was taken down.) In it he states that the invasion of Ukraine was the fault of the Ukrainians for requesting to join the EU and NATO. This is the appalling stance I take issue with. NATO expansion to Ukraine would not have materially impacted Russian security more so than military installments already in Poland and Baltic countries. It is merely a pretext for invasion as Putin envisioned since at least 2014. It would be an obvious deterrent. To the matter of liberal economic illusions I agree with Stephen actually.. One of the biggest blunders of western policy was the assumption that globalization of trade with authoritarian regimes would liberalize them, but we can see there are limits when pitted against ideology. With 2001 acceptance of Chinese WTO membership it was thought that the Chinese would start to embrace democratic values, but instead, the government doubled down on state control. Financed the expansion of debt diplomacy. Began military expansion and confrontation in the South China Sea, and is increasingly emboldened to use military power in border disputes, and forcibly reunify Taiwan with the mainland. With Iran we see that coupling and sanction yield some influence to alter the trajectory of a nuclear program, but have failed to break ground on ballistic missile programs and funding of proxy wars. With Russia, there is no yielding in Putin’s ideological ambitions, and we can see that play out now on the global stage.

[@kamikaziking]

@@offmeds2nite so you think strongarming countries is only a US privilege..,....wow, you are one of the delusionals he is mentioning in the video......

[@MarxStevens]

You're just used to media propaganda btw Bukhmat fell

[@murimurimrui]

At the end of the day. Don't lose wars.