I really enjoyed the discussion today-especially the explanation of how Putin came to power-I never knew that-now I have background information when reading or listening to others!!! Thanks again-“knowledge is power”
Great Q&A session today and I really appreciate your commitment to educating listeners about matters vital to democracy now and in the future. If there is opportunity in the future I want to ask about the Trump administration making their friends and allies into enemies. Looking forward to the next Q&A
Really enjoyed the time with you and everyone. Thank you for talking even with a sore voice. I feel far less stressed about how things are moving in Ukraine now. Not great but promising to be moving in the better direction. Hoping. 🙏🇺🇦🇺🇸
I’ve thought about your comment about Putin looking directly at VP Biden’s eyes in 2011 and telling him “You look at us and think that because I look like you that we think the same, but we don’t think like you … We are a different civilization, we are not part of Europe” [paraphrased from your comment]
Apropos the matter, here’s something I wrote a few years back …
On September 11, 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin published an opinion in the New York Times regarding possible American military intervention in Syria. In response to President Obama’s address to the nation regarding the intervention, Putin said:
“And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is “what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.” It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.” (A Plea for Caution From Russia: What Putin Has to Say to Americans About Syria, New York Times, September 11, 2013).
President Putin’s opinion piece caused much consternation and anger in the United States … Rather I would like to focus on President Putin’s point that it is dangerous for America to see itself as exceptional. I do not agree. The fact is that Russia as well as America has seen itself as exceptional throughout its history.
Henry Kissinger in his seminal work, Diplomacy (New York, 1994) points out that Russians like Americans thought of their society as exceptional but for very different reasons:
“Russia’s expansion into Central Asia had many of the features of America’s own westward expansion, and the Russian justification for it … paralleled the way Americans explained their own “manifest destiny.”
The openness of each country’s frontiers was among the few common features of American and Russian exceptionalism. America’s sense of uniqueness was based on the concept of liberty; Russia’s sprang from the experience of common suffering. Everyone was eligible to share in America’s values; Russia’s were available only to the Russian nation, to the exclusion of its non-Russian subjects. America’s exceptionalism led it to isolation alternating with occasional moral crusades; Russia’s evoked a sense of mission which often led to military adventures [emphasis added].” (p. 142).
Perhaps it is this sense of “suffering” at the hands of the West, conflated with imperial chauvinism throughout Russia’s history, at least since Peter the Great, that is inherent in Russia’s “mission”.
Dear Michael — I just joined your Substack and saw the post about the recent Q&A. Looks like I missed something really insightful. Is there a recording available somewhere? Maybe on your YouTube channel? Would love to catch up if possible. Thanks!
You're the political scientist, in some views "par excellence", and I will try to buy the book. if this has not been discussed, some time I would like to hear about how internal politics in Russia conditions and regulates its foreign policies and outreach. In my own opinion, the Russian Federation by its actions and what has happened in Ukraine given Kremlin policies, Putin is "a truth", albeit a really maniacal and sinful truth, that cannot be resolved, or at least resolved with great difficulty that might not include us.
You are such an important voice. Thank you for your hard work.👏♥️🇺🇸
I really enjoyed the discussion today-especially the explanation of how Putin came to power-I never knew that-now I have background information when reading or listening to others!!! Thanks again-“knowledge is power”
Great Q&A session today and I really appreciate your commitment to educating listeners about matters vital to democracy now and in the future. If there is opportunity in the future I want to ask about the Trump administration making their friends and allies into enemies. Looking forward to the next Q&A
Really enjoyed the time with you and everyone. Thank you for talking even with a sore voice. I feel far less stressed about how things are moving in Ukraine now. Not great but promising to be moving in the better direction. Hoping. 🙏🇺🇦🇺🇸
Really appreciated the opportunity to hear your thoughts today! Thank you.
Just subbed, Professor!
Glad to be joining you folks here.
Aloha 😊🤙🏼
I’ve thought about your comment about Putin looking directly at VP Biden’s eyes in 2011 and telling him “You look at us and think that because I look like you that we think the same, but we don’t think like you … We are a different civilization, we are not part of Europe” [paraphrased from your comment]
Apropos the matter, here’s something I wrote a few years back …
On September 11, 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin published an opinion in the New York Times regarding possible American military intervention in Syria. In response to President Obama’s address to the nation regarding the intervention, Putin said:
“And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is “what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.” It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.” (A Plea for Caution From Russia: What Putin Has to Say to Americans About Syria, New York Times, September 11, 2013).
President Putin’s opinion piece caused much consternation and anger in the United States … Rather I would like to focus on President Putin’s point that it is dangerous for America to see itself as exceptional. I do not agree. The fact is that Russia as well as America has seen itself as exceptional throughout its history.
Henry Kissinger in his seminal work, Diplomacy (New York, 1994) points out that Russians like Americans thought of their society as exceptional but for very different reasons:
“Russia’s expansion into Central Asia had many of the features of America’s own westward expansion, and the Russian justification for it … paralleled the way Americans explained their own “manifest destiny.”
The openness of each country’s frontiers was among the few common features of American and Russian exceptionalism. America’s sense of uniqueness was based on the concept of liberty; Russia’s sprang from the experience of common suffering. Everyone was eligible to share in America’s values; Russia’s were available only to the Russian nation, to the exclusion of its non-Russian subjects. America’s exceptionalism led it to isolation alternating with occasional moral crusades; Russia’s evoked a sense of mission which often led to military adventures [emphasis added].” (p. 142).
Perhaps it is this sense of “suffering” at the hands of the West, conflated with imperial chauvinism throughout Russia’s history, at least since Peter the Great, that is inherent in Russia’s “mission”.
Just a thought …
My full comment is in https://nationalsecurityandstrategy.blogspot.com/2013/10/american-exceptionalism.html
Dear Mr. Ambassador,
Thank you so much for sharing your time and expertise with us; always much food for thought. Really appreciate it.
Please, if you can, have your assistant send the slides you referred to in your talk.
Thank you again.
will do.
Do you have a link where I can access the discussion. I could not login to Zoom. Thank you
lets see what we can do.
Thanks for your insight! And best to Kip & Helen!
will do!
WE LOVE YOU MADLY, MIKE McFAUL, you are the VOICE of TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!! 🩷🩷🩷
very kind.
Dear Michael — I just joined your Substack and saw the post about the recent Q&A. Looks like I missed something really insightful. Is there a recording available somewhere? Maybe on your YouTube channel? Would love to catch up if possible. Thanks!
You're the political scientist, in some views "par excellence", and I will try to buy the book. if this has not been discussed, some time I would like to hear about how internal politics in Russia conditions and regulates its foreign policies and outreach. In my own opinion, the Russian Federation by its actions and what has happened in Ukraine given Kremlin policies, Putin is "a truth", albeit a really maniacal and sinful truth, that cannot be resolved, or at least resolved with great difficulty that might not include us.