‘Who Lost Russia?’ Isn’t Just an Academic Debate
The answer could help the U.S. avoid alienating other countries.
He isn’t known for flexibility.
Photographer: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images
These days, Russia is merely a big football for Americans. There’s little demand for nuance, as some old Russia hands complained to Keith Gessen for his excellent article published in the New York Times Magazine over the weekend. It’s important, however, to reflect on the reasons for this ugly phase in the U.S.-Russia relationship.
An important discussion took place in New York last week between Michael McFaul, who served as President Barack Obama’s ambassador to Russia for two years, and Stephen Cohen, professor emeritus of Russian studies at Princeton and New York University. From a U.S. perspective, these aren’t the most obvious choices to represent the two sides of the argument: Both hold views to the left of the neoconservative position, which calls for punishing and isolating Russia. But for the purposes of debate, Cohen and McFaul are at opposing poles within the constructive spectrum of the “who lost Russia?” debate.