Hugo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 5:29 am
Just finished a book on Reagans role in the end of the Cold War and read the speech he gave to students at Moscow uni in 1988. Most of it he is championing the coming of the information age, the silicon chip, satellite technology and talking up the prospect of improving relations between the USA and the Soviet Union and there's an interesting paragraph at the end there.
"Americans seek always to make friends of old antagonists. After a colonial revolution with Britain, we have cemented for all ages the ties of kinship between our nations. After a terrible Civil War between North and South, we healed our wounds and found true unity as a nation. We fought two world wars in my lifetime against Germany and one with Japan, but now the Federal Republic of Germany and Japan are two of our closest allies and friends"
Its very true, after defeating former adversaries the US was able to turn relations around. After effectively defeating the USSR in the cold war the US has not managed to build friendly relations with Russia.
Both countries were on good terms in the 18th & 19th century but once they both emerged as imperial powers in the 20th century they became direct competitors and their geopolitical rivalry began. My theory is that its because Russia is geographically too vast a country for the US to effectively "tame" or control or bring into the fold so to speak. Due to its size and reach it will always pose a threat to the US.
I wonder if anyone else has a theory as to why Russo-American relations have not transformed in the post cold war era?
1. UK and US tensions continued for quite a long time after the American revolution. They went to war again in 1812 and were never friendly at the state level until after WW2 when it was clear that the Poms' turn at running the world was coming to an end. So that's 1776 - 1945 with cold relations. It also appears to me that American and British friendliness is and was more bottom-up (i,e. from the common people) than top-down.
2. Germany and Japan were formally occupied by Americans, this never occurred with Russia. This is because USA never defeated Russia in a military battle, and this is the usual precondition for a humiliating occupation.
Therefore the comparison is a lot more similar to the USA with Britain, where you have to add:
Only 30 years have passed since the end of the USSR.
Russia and USA don't share a common language.
Russia and USA don't share a common religion.
Russia and USA don't share almost any ethnic background.
