Стр. 4 - V

Author : L. Voronkov
Professor, Department for Integration Studies, Moscow State Institute (University) of International Re-
lations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Science (History)
BEHIND THE POLICY of Western countries and their allies toward
Russia in the Ukrainian crisis is a long-term strategy adopted by key West-
ern powers, and the Ukrainian conflict is just one manifestation of this
strategy. Claims by the United States that it is the world leader, far from
raising any objections from its allies, are supported by them in every way.
The West mainly uses two extremely powerful channels for the promo-
tion of its interpretations of democratic values - the media and numerous
scholarly publications, mostly in English, which are owned by Western
companies but claim to represent the Western world's supposed unlim-
ited freedom of expression.
Finally, military force is another key method whereby Western powers
try to assert their economic, financial, and political interests in countries
to which they assign peripheral status. Armed force is used to ensure stronger positions for Western
companies and deter or intimidate countries that might stand up to them.
The idea of a pan-European system of security and cooperation based on consensus of the states in-
volved in the Helsinki process was the first casualty of the demolition of the postwar European security
system.
Countries whose regimes are not seen by Western powers as like-minded are not obligated to earn their
"democratic" labels through deepgoing democratic reforms since it takes time to carry them out. They
can, however, become members of the Western club if power in them goes over to politicians who
embrace Western ideology and are willing to take their countries into NATO and the proposed NATO-
based European security system.
THE WEST has accorded a purely subordinate and auxiliary role to Russia in the economic and political
affairs of this pan-American world system - without Russia being aware of this or wanting it. Moreover,
even if Russia accepted the Western neo-liberal model of development and values hook, line, and sinker,
it would still have practically no chance of moving to any higher rung in this system. The West has
tried to minimize Russia's power by pretending to help it.
Russia made clear that it was unprepared to bring its national interests into line with Western geopolitical
plans.
Over the past quarter of a century, the West has not ceased to put heavy pressure on Russia to force it
to influence its domestic path of development, state of society, system of government, and international
policies so that it becomes an obedient partner and does not stand in the way as the West pursues its
global strategy.
There is no realistic alternative to a multipolar world based on respect for the independence and sov-
ereignty of states, but there can be no doubt that its emergence will come up against tough resistance
from the West.
Электронное приложение к журналу «Международная жизнь»
Effects of the Unipolar World Concept on European and Global Se-
curity Systems