Why the Ukraine Crisis Is the West’s Fault

The Liberal Delusions That Provoked Putin

By: John J. Mearsheimer

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

Length: 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Conventional wisdom in the West blames the Ukraine crisis on Russian aggression. But this account is wrong: Washington and its European allies actually share most of the responsibility, having spent decades pushing east into Russia’s natural sphere of interest.

©2014 Foreign Affairs (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Vindicated by history

At this point, the prescience of this piece is not merely a matter of prognostication but a fact of history. For this reason alone it’s worthy of consideration.

Interesting points, however...

The author does a good job emphasizing the history and point that Ukraine should stay neutral from a geopolitical standpoint. However, I disagree that it should not have the right to self determination. Foreign thinkers and politicians, both Eastern and Western, have seemingly always dictated the actions and history of Ukraine as well as many other Eastern European countries.
Historically, Ukraine was and still is of no consequence to Western nations. In 1932-33, while the Stalinist regime starved 7 million Ukrainians to death, the West did nothing and even journalists wrote articles stating all was well ignoring the problem. In 1944 at the Yalta Conference, Ukraine and Eastern Europe was sold out by Churchill and Roosevelt to Stalin instigating the Iron Curtain for over 50 years. Even in more recent times, the Western powers only become more intrested in Ukraine if Russia is rattled and makes a move.
Thinking that Russia is only making these aggressive moves because the Western powers wanted to expand NATO and relations into Ukraine is simply naive. Russia wants to regain its lost territories and expand back to what it historically claims is theirs. The author sould review this from a historical perspective, specifically going back to the Treaty of Pereyaslav in 1654.

Finally, informed logic!

The US wouldn’t want Russia in Mexico - why shouldn’t Russia feel threatened by the West’s interference in Ukraine?

I agree. Worth listening to.

I did not like or agree with the authors book on Israel, but he hits this issue about the Ukraine on the head. My father was born in the Ukraine and immigrated to the US as a youngster after WWI. I have no positive nor warm feelings to the Ukraine for their residents agressive support and assistance to the Nazis. The author is correct that the intervention of the west, especially the US for the military problems their with the break up of their country and the invassion of Putin. No doubt if the shoe was on the other foot such as the Russian import of missles into. Cuba a country that is our neighbor drew us into a potential World Nuclear War with Russia. This time it was our meddling in the Ukraine Russia's neighbor brought Russia into Military action to push us back.

view of big boys

Author favors russian interests and disregards ukrainian interests, but he doesnt hide it. He thinks Russia defends its safety

Interesting but ultimately wrong

The correct debate was actually outlined in the text. John advocates the 19th century “enlightenment” concept of submission to large powers. This is the type of outdated thinking that lead to colonialism and many other issues. He openly places this In opposition to “post-modern” individualist thinking where the happiness of the people is paramount. THAT is where “right” stems from. Not the will of the toughest guy in the neighborhood.

More relevant than ever...

This was lectured years ago. It behooves us to listen. Liberal foreign policy approaches (not "liberal" in the US political sense, but as in one of the two dominant foreign policy frameworks) does not account for real nation-state power policy.

.

Author uses all the key Kremlin talking points in his article on Ukraine. Ukrainians are noticably absent from his argument. Russia is portrayed in a passive manner, merely reacting to the 'aggressive' West