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Articles by Peter Rutland
Why Syria Veto Makes Sense
27 February 12
By Peter Rutland and Nadiya Kravets
On Friday, representatives of more than 70 nations gathered in Tunis to discuss international action to stop the killings in Syria. But Russia was not among them.
Putin's Nationality Dilemma
30 January 12
In Prague, tourists line up to visit the "New-Old" synagogue, which was new when it was built, in 1270. On Jan. 23, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin published an essay on the "national question" in Nezavisimaya Gazeta. Like the Prague synagogue, Putin's article is something that is called new, but in fact, it is quite old.
A Cold War Could Turn Hot in Korean Peninsula
29 December 11
Much of the commentary about North Korea after the death of Kim Jong Il has sidestepped the question of reunification. While the nations of Germany and Vietnam were united, Korea remains split into two. In this part of the world, the Cold War is not over, and there is a real danger that it might turn into a hot war.
The Dynamic Side of the Leonid Brezhnev Era
15 November 11
With Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's impending return to the presidency, there is increasing talk of a Communist-type restoration. But what do we really know about the Soviet Union of the Brezhnev years?
Stalin Caused the Soviet Collapse
17 August 11
By Peter Rutland and Philip Pomper
Twenty years after the August 1991 coup that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is worth revisiting the puzzle of the Soviet Union's abrupt demise. Which individual more than any other should be held responsible for the Soviet collapse?
War Clouds Gathering Again in the Caucasus
28 July 11
Three years after the Russia-Georgia armed conflict, war clouds are again gathering in the Caucasus. Already deadlocked for years, the peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan hit a brick wall on June 24 in Kazan, when a much-anticipated peace summit broke up without agreement.
There Goes the Eastern Neighborhood
03 June 11
By Peter Rutland and Kateryna Shynkaruk
W ith the Group of Eight leaders pledging $20 billion in aid last week to support countries making the transition from dictatorship in the Arab world, the West seems to be losing its interest in promoting democracy in the former Soviet Union.
The Great Glonass Game
10 August 10
The introduction of Glonass gives the Kremlin a pretext to intervene in the lucrative telecom market, one of the unsung success stories of post-communist Russia. Just as the oil industry has seen the marginalization of foreign investors and a reassertion of state control in recent years, telecom might be the next target for the Kremlin.
The Sorry State of the Customs Union
23 March 10
By Peter Rutland and Oleg Reut
The proposed customs union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan is another sign that protectionist sentiments are a permanent feature of the new international landscape.
The Reset Misfires
12 February 10
In the early months of Barack Obama’s presidency, the reset got off to a good start, but now it has sputtered.
Medvedev Under Obama’s Charm
13 July 09
By Oleg Reut and Peter Rutland
U.S. President Barack Obama’s trip to Moscow was an impressive diplomatic performance. Obama was able to establish what he called a “tone of mutual respect” without yielding any ground on matters of principle.
Change Blowing in From the 2nd World
15 June 09
On Tuesday, the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China will be meeting in Yekaterinburg for the first summit of the BRIC powers.
Islands Apart
18 May 09
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin descended on Japan last week, accompanied by a dozen governors and more than 100 Russian business leaders.
Stop Treating Russia Like a Donkey
13 March 09
When U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov the ""reset button"" with the botched Russian translation of the word ""reset,"" Lavrov -- being the experienced, stoic diplomat that he is -- probably would have smiled graciously, thanked Clinton for the nice gesture and not drawn attention to the flub.
The Nuances of Diplomacy
14 October 08
In the second U.S. presidential debate, we were treated to the ruminations of Senators John McCain and Barack Obama over whether it is accurate to describe Russia as an ""evil empire.""
Misha One Percent
01 February 08
Former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, a vocal critic of the Kremlin, was barred on Sunday from running in the presidential election because of supposed irregularities among the 2 million signatures he collected in support of his candidacy. Similar tactics were used to keep opposition parties out of the State Duma elections in December and to harass the street demonstrations organized by Garry Kasparov's opposition coalition, The Other Russia.
Deja Vu in Ukraine
16 October 07
By Helen Chebanenko and Peter Rutland
Three years after the Orange Revolution, Ukraine is experiencing ... another Orange Revolution. The Sept. 30 parliamentary election will lead to the return to power of a coalition of the two pro-reform parties led by Yulia Tymoshenko and President Viktor Yushchenko, who together hold 228 of the 450 seats in the Ukrainian parliament.
'Rose Revolution' Raises Some Thorny Issues
24 May 04
By Peter Rutland and Zaal Anjaparidze
Six months after the ""Rose Revolution"" that toppled Eduard Shevardnadze, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili continues to surprise observers and energize his supporters.
A Sense of Perspective
17 November 03
Newsday
The dramatic jailing of Russia's richest man proves once again that Russian politics can still shock and surprise the outside world.
The Forgotten War and an Intractable Conflict
24 September 03
Almost exactly 10 years ago, on Sept. 30, 1993, separatist rebels drove Georgian forces from the province of Abkhazia on the east shore of the Black Sea.
Globalization to Azeris Means Oil and War
26 June 03
One way of dealing with the United States' role as the ""sole superpower"" is to assume that anything and everything that happens must be part of Washington's grand strategy.
Monitoring the Census: Moscow to Marii-El
20 November 02
Last month's census, the preliminary results of which were presented on Friday, was billed by President Vladimir Putin as the most important political event of the year. That claim, alas, has been overshadowed by the terrible ""Nord Ost"" hostage-taking.
A Turning Point in U.S.-Russian Relations?
15 October 01
Russians were horrified by the events of Sept. 11, a reaction reflected in Putin's initial response.
Racism in Russia and the World
03 September 01
Russians do not see themselves as racist and intolerant.
