Russia's grand strategic mistake is repeatedly assuming it must be anti-Western to survive and maintain great power status, rather than figuring out how to be non-Western (culturally and institutionally distinct) while maintaining beneficial relations with the West.

causalpending

Speaker

Stephen Kotkin

Evidence Quote

Russia's grand strategy is how to be itself in a world that's Western dominated...their mistake again and again is that they must be anti-Western to survive...figure out a modus vivendi with the West that's mutually beneficial and prosperous.

Source

Stephen Kotkin: Russia’s Murky Future | Foreign Affairs InterviewForeign Affairs
Created: 8/12/2026, 10:22:55 PM

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