A meeting of the Council Russia-NATO on Wednesday 13 Jul expected has not demonstrated a marked improvement of relations between Moscow and the Alliance. Russophobia continues to dominate in NATO policy. The image of the enemy formed for many reasons and the efforts of many States.
Behind the scenes, however, remained a significant problem, pursuing NATO at least twenty years, but increased in recent years. This problem is nationalism.
Small-town politics
Ever since the struggle with the Soviet Union, the US and NATO relied on inciting nationalism of the small Nations, as part of the Union, and formed the socialist camp.
Everything was to the West well until the issue of nationalism was the problem of the USSR and then CIS and post-Soviet Russia. But since the late 90’s-early naughties NATO and the EU has officially committed itself to extension. Moreover, the new members were those most affected by the nationalism of small Nations.
The first West was able to localize the problem of parochial nationalisms, giving her the edge against Russia. There was no greater happiness for an Estonian or a Lithuanian, Polish or Romanian politics than hiding behind NATO, Russia to do some mischief. Then the Eastern Europeans joined the post-Soviet Moldovans, Georgians and Ukrainians. Not being in NATO, they are also expected to cover the military umbrella of the unit.
It seemed that the situation unpunished persecution of Russian small nationalisms will exist forever. Still many, even among the enlightened Russian patriots, it seems. Some even believe that the result of this persecution will be the inevitable collapse of Russia.
The idea was such. The state, which can with impunity kick any of the border States, is gradually losing international credibility, losing last allies. Separatist forces within the country raise their heads in expectation of external support. The patriots are losing confidence in the government. People do not know who to believe. In General, the second edition of the Soviet collapse.
The right with impunity to bite
But in Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014, Russia has demonstrated that the “red lines” exist, and if they cross, NATO will not help. Will have to pay at least territories. NATO had not stood up for the “young democracy” in Tbilisi and Kiev.
But NATO is a military Alliance. And take it East Europeans in search of protection. Protect it from Russia. That is, they could treat their NATO membership as the right safe to bite Russia.
The story of the war 08.08.08 else could seem simple misunderstanding. However, when NATO and Washington refused to protect Ukraine, had to think about. It is easy to see that from the point of view of geographical position, industrial capacity and population of Ukraine by the end of 2013 was more significant prize than Poland and all the Baltic States taken together. Therefore, if NATO did not defend Kiev, which gave the unit a uniquely winning position even before the military conflict with Moscow, then where is the guarantee that the Alliance will suddenly rush into battle for Riga or Warsaw?
Decisions of the last summit in the background going wild Russophobia in official statements did not accept in fact no specific (limited time and number of troops) decisions on assistance to the border States — the last call.
Immediately after this celebration of small nationalisms of the European capitals continued with a series of statements about the necessity of ending the sanctions campaign against Russia and dramatically improve relations with Moscow.
Unfold inside
Thus, small nationalisms, fostered by the USA and NATO is. Their over-the-top Russophobia is also still there. But the ability to poison the border States of Russia have practically disappeared.
The fact that any foreign policy statements directly affect the political situation.
If after several decades of rabid Russophobic propaganda and promises to dramatically improve the economy and grow territories after the collapse of Russia, suddenly it turns out that the collapse will not, and no one will go on a crusade, politicians can pretend that nothing happened. But their grown Nazi crowd — their social support, will not understand or forgive such a betrayal.
The result we have seen in Ukraine, where all politicians accuse each other of treason and working for Putin, FSB, etc that people agree with them, at least, that they are traitors. Against this background, intensified and talk about the betrayal of Ukraine by the West, not only at political but also at the household level.
That is, for the Ukrainian parochial nationalism the enemy is not only in the East but in the West. This was particularly visible in relations with Poland. It’s like Warsaw and Kiev licked each other for two decades as I tried to avoid all the pitfalls of history. But as soon as it became clear that the West could not hope, Bandera immediately became a Polish problem, no less, and even to a greater extent than the Russian.
Epidemic of hate
Exactly the same processes occur in the Baltic States, Poland, and Bulgaria. In Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia anti-Western sentiment is already legalized in public policy.
Romania still holds in the calculation of territorial acquisition through the integration of Moldova and the division of Ukraine, but it is only the Bucharest finally understand that to did not succeed and his loyalty will evaporate instantly.
Eastern Europe is not quiet, and loud hate of the West, has not justified her hopes. Jumping into a departing train NATO and the EU former socialist inmates believed that get a ticket in a luxury car, which will bring them to the land of eternal joy. And it turned out that they were taken in goods wagons to forced labor.
It was still possible to survive. But as a parochial nationalism can survive the fact that Russia, on which they looked down from their seats in the European Parliament and the European Commission, again close to the position where without her will not a single cannon in Europe will not shoot? Russian social stability and economic development are now gradually becoming the envy of the fugitives.
It should also be borne in mind that in politics, running you projects will you be returned. The game with the Eastern European and the former Soviet Union and then the African and Asian nationalisms led to the fact that radical nationalists gradually gained the support of the majority of EU countries.
The Scottish referendum on secession from Britain and the British withdrawal from the EU — only the first swallow. And in Eastern Europe contradictions enough. Only one of the Polish-Lithuanian “friendship” is worth a lot.
Turn inside
All of these internal problems of the West politically solved as long as energy nationalism in channelized Russophobia and went to Russia.
But from that moment it became clear that Eastern radicals do not Shine, nationalism had developed inside. If Russia is as suitable for the massacres of the enemy becomes unavailable, the enemy must be among their own.
Unfolding inside nationalism is a big problem in the EU. And yet the economic Union is still able to cope with this problem. NATO is a military block. And how can there be a military Alliance, whose members each other do not just trust, but openly hate each other? Only formal and temporary.
However, inevitable in the short term, the collapse of NATO should not cause us a sense of euphoria. Do not repeat the mistake of the West decided that the collapse of the Soviet Union marks the end of the story. For us it would be better if the unit had adopted the civilized rules of the game, tempered the aggressiveness and switched to the provision of humanitarian assistance to the starving in Africa.
In the current situation, the collapse of NATO means US withdrawal from Europe. After that, all petty selfishness, parochial nationalism, old grudges and complaints will surface.
The last 70 years, the U.S. iron fist disciplined its NATO allies and vassals. No NATO, no USA in Europe, they celebrate a “feast” suit, which is prohibited in Russia, IG seems a meeting of the creative intelligentsia. And I’m afraid that on their own, even France and Germany with these guys can’t handle.
So we must now think what will happen after NATO and how to deal with it.
Rostislav Ishchenko
