The Long Telegram 2.0: A Neo-Kennanite Approach to Russia

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The Long Telegram 2.0: A Neo-Kennanite Approach to Russia lays out an original argument for understanding Russia that goes deep into its history, starting with the tri-partite dictum orthodoxy, autocracy, nationality, formulated in 1833 by count Sergey Uvarov. The author explores Uvarovs triad in the context of modern Russia, adding five more traits: exceptionalism, expansionism, historical primordialism, worship of the military, and glorification of suffering. The author argues that, as presently constituted, Russia cannot become a democracy, and, sooner than later, it will disintegrate, replicating the fate of the Soviet Union. The key reasons for these, according to the author, are: weak mechanisms for the transition of power, poorly developed institutions of the state, feeble economy and education, frail ideology, and, most importantly, the lack of a unified national identity.

Following this assessment, the author defines a strategy for dealing with Russia, based on a combination of offensive realism and realpolitik, recommending that the West copes with Russia in a more pragmatic manner. The book includes the authors translation of a unique historical document from the 1860s: a pamphlet calling for the independence of Siberia on the example of the American revolution.

Reviews

As Russian President Vladimir Putin maneuvers to remain in power after 2024, the perennial questions about his goals and effective Western responses continue to preoccupy researchers observing Russia. Using George Kennan's Long Telegram, which guided US policy throughout the Cold War, as a metaphoric framework, Eltsov (National Defense Univ.) addresses these questions in a narrative organized around themes of autocracy, expansionism, and ethnically defined identity in Russia. He reviews Soviet and Russian transgressions against other countries, ranging from the horrificthe Soviet murder of over 20,000 Poles in 1940to the trivial and bizarreRussian public figures' belief that American women's sexual harassment allegations reflect frustration in a country where men are either gay or impotent. Eltsov persuasively argues that American efforts to promote democracy in Russia are not only wrongheaded, but counterproductive. . . Eltsov's narrative is highly engaging and serves as a very good, if selective, introduction to Putin's Russia. This well-documented book also includes a long, mainly Russian-language bibliography. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers through upper-division undergraduates.

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This important study of Russian cultural identity explains its exceptionalism and expansionism which make it profoundly different from the West in order to advocate a patient and realistic policy towards Moscow. -- Konrad H. Jarausch, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
While eschewing the sort of essentialism evident in so much writing about Russia, even Kennans famous 1946 Long Telegram, Peter Eltsov nonetheless catalogues essential Russian themes. Through the extremes of near catastrophe and divine victory, to orthodox autocracy and the holy fool, he weaves a historical and contemporary analysis that is of value for any observer of Russia. -- Matthew Rojansky, The Wilson Center
Peter Eltsovs The Long Telegram 2.0 is a highly original book. His deep immersion in Russian and American culture allows him to look at the Putin regime anew from both a Russian and Western point of view, concluding that unless U.S. policy changes dramatically the autocratic nature of the Russian regime will only get worse. Eltsov also argues that Russia could even eventually break up. Both imaginative engagement and a much more constructive new policy of containment are needed to deal with Russia. This is a highly readable and thought-provoking book, and should be required reading for decision-makers in West and East." -- Klaus Larres, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Author Bio

Peter Eltsovis assistant professor of international security affairs at National Defense University.