The Long Telegram 2.0

A Neo-Kennanite Approach to Russia

Peter Eltsov

• Publisher: Lexington Books
• Year: 2019
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781978774087
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: International Relations
• Index: Politics & International Relations

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 Uvarov's 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 The book includes the author's translation of a unique historical document from the 1860s: a pamphlet calling for the independence of Siberia on the example of the American revolution.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• A Note on Translations, Sources, and Names
• Introduction
• Chapter One: Mother Russia, the Czardom
• Chapter Two: Mother Russia, the Messiah
• Chapter Three: Mother Russia, the Empire
• Chapter Four: Mother Russia, the Primordial
• Chapter Five: Mother Russia, the Savior
• Chapter Six: Mother Russia, the Sacred
• Chapter Seven: Mother Russia, the Holy Fool
• Chapter Eight: Mother Russia, Noah’s Ark
• Conclusion
• Postscript
• Appendix
• Bibliography
• Index
• About the Author