The Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), the Program in Hellenic Studies, Princeton University and The Princeton Club of Greece organized a lecture by Mark R. Beissinger, Professor of Comparative Politics in the Politics Department of Princeton University on The Persistence of Empire in Eurasia. The event took place at ELIAMEP’s offices on May 14, 2010 and Professor Thanos Veremis, Vice President of ELIAMEP, moderated the discussion.
The speaker focused on the issue of the imperial and expansive tendency of modern Russia considering as a paradox that the USSR did not perceive herself to be an Empire, although it did not define herself as such. Another paradox is that after the fall of the USSR, Russia continued the pre-existing imperial tradition. Prof. Beissinger highlighted how Russians define themselves politically in regard to the political interaction between Russia and her neighbors. In particular, he suggested that without Russia politicians believe that they have a natural inclination to expand politically at their neighbors’ expense. By contrast, Russia’s neighbors accuse her of imperial tendency and practice, for instance the cases of Estonia, Chechnya, Ukraine, Georgia, the energy role of Russia and the preservation of the Cyrillic alphabet in the former Soviet republics.
The term ‘Empire’ has a negative connotation in modern politics and it is in contrast with international politics, as this has been defined by the UN Declaration of Independence. According to Prof. Beissinger, Russia has not broken the historical stigma of the Empire. His analysis is based on four points: 1) stickiness of bad reputation and fragility of good reputation, 2) continuity of Russian imperial influence in other countries, 3) Mass aspiration for respect among Russians, and 4) persisting disproportion of power between Russia and its neighbors.
Overall, the speaker pointed out that Russia’s neighbors accept its role as superior power in the region, they feel for the game, trying to evolve in this process.