Russia-Georgia : The conflict's stakes
The conflict between Russia and Georgia, in itself, the position taken by Russia to face up internationals authority’s abmonitions and warnings raised a main issue. What is Russia trying to do?
The geopolitical map of the world is subject to many changes because of a political, economic and social background that evolve rapidly. Following the example of China (Asian countries), Russia fanned the industrialized countries or emerging ones. Aware of its position in this redefinition of the world, it tries to prevent foreing influence in order to maintain control overs its partners, even “enemies”, and thus gain its independence. An aspiration to independence and power that can explain the ambiguity of its stance in its relations with its partners.
Russia : an independent or European power
With a booming economy and a huge territory with enormous potential, foreign investors will be unintelligent to ignore this flourishing marketplace.
As the world raw materials crisis is obvious, Russia intends to use its energetic power, mainly based on its natural resources such as oil and gas, to balance and even rule the interntional trade.
Focus on the idea of an Europe that will be able to rise above the United-States dominion, Russia represent a decisive partner in the achievement of this common goal. Moreover, since its return on the international scene in 1999, it can be very pleased about an increase in trade with Europe thanks to the wrong policy in Irak (oil…) and its consequences (rising prices,…). However, the relation between those two entities, favours Russia, only with the fluctuations of oil, even though Russia is a country pretty closed to the rest of the world. With its position, Russia wants to be considered as the cornerstone or a important actor in the international trade. But the same desire of power and independence weaken the connections with Europe. Indeed, the two enteties have agreed on topics such as the military intervention in Irak or fighting against economic crime and corruption by the signing the “Four space” treaty in 2005. However, it is so hard to agree on when both partners are not following the same interests on a long term policy. These agreements were to seal the union between both of the country through an integration and cooperation policy. The strategy adopted by Russia force it to be open to the others while it only longing for being independent. Thus, Russia never ceases to break the agreements. For instance, it write down in the russian tax code, a standart that allow the inspection tax levy fines on the guilty account without going through justice, or by constantly returning on the prices of pretrolium products or other. While this association requires more democracy, Russia is trying to bend Europe to its domestic policy as it is the key of its strategy. This desire of controling its domestic policy also explain the conflict with Georgia.
In fact, in its control of domestic policy, Russia accuses Georgia of making a pact with the enemy. Since the break of the Sovietic bloc, Russia has had to face the emancipation of several countries including the Ukraine and Georgia in 1991. South Ossetia and Abkhazia have tried to follow this line too but were the scene of bloody civil wars without concrete results. Mikheil Saakachvili, the Georgian president, who came to power in 2004, speed up some reforms to move closer to the West and at least integerated NATO, a former rival of Russia, and Europe, to be free from the russian pressure. We must understand that Russia doesn’t disagree with Georgia because it is going closer to the West. But, talking about geopolotical strategy, Russia is dispossess of its areas of natural influence (Gas and Oil) around the Caucasus and beyond, beneath to the West who thus take position in the strategical areas what weaken somewhat the russian giant. Moreover, Poland and Czech are negociting with NATO to obtain a misile shield. In others words, Russia is trying to protect itself from the Euopean and NATO invasion. In the past, it has already shown what it was able to do to keep its territory (Chechnya). Beyond its position taken in the different international relationships (divide the members of the European Union to stop its consolidation) and the harsh criticism against NATO (sanitary cordon) and Europe (accuses of rebuilding the “new Berlin Walls”), we can notice a rapprochement with Asia (sino-russian partnership, Shangai cooperation organization) confirms by the presidential trip of Dimitri Medmedev (Vladimir Putin puppet) in Beijing on the 23 and 24th of May 2005. Both to show its disagree and find others partners.
It is right to think that Russia is looking for its past glory. If the Westerner don’t want to give it the place it deserve in the built of Europe, we can guess what a reaction ill be. But at the same time, the rapprochement with Asia can give us a clue. This alliance will be the one of two emerging countries going the same way, Russia will also be able tomake up its technical lack. We mustn't forgt the BRIC alliance too between Brazil, Russia, India and China. So no matter how strong Europe, helped by NATO is, Russia remain an industrial, military, and economic power. The world has turned but everyone knows where the tyrannical impulses of a man can drive the World………….