Chavez Uses Russia to Play “International Poker”

By Robert Amsterdam | Published: December 21, 2008

The following is an exclusive translation from today’s edition of El Nacional, a leading daily newspaper in Venezuela – an interview with an expert on Russia-Venezuela relations. EL NACIONAL – Domingo 21 de Diciembre de 2008Mundo/14 Carlos Romero – an academic disapproves ideologization Chavez operates with Russia like the Cold War The UCV and Unimet […]

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Protesters Beaten, Discontent Spreads

By James Kimer | Published:

Although this has not yet turned into a full fledged manifestation of the “greek virus” of widespread social discontent, over the weekend Russia has been assailed with protest actions in multiple cities in response to the state’s idea to place an import duty tax on foreign cars in effort to cover the increasingly burdensome budget […]

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A Warning from Putin

By James Kimer | Published: December 20, 2008

Although it’s not exactly clear who he is talking to, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is sending an aggressive warning for the holiday season: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned Russia’s foes on Friday against trying to destabilize a country facing broadening economic crisis, Russian news agencies reported. Putin did not specify who might pose a threat […]

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Lessons from Greece

By James Kimer | Published:

Guy Sorman has an interesting column exploring the deep fractures within Europe’s left-leaning political parties in light of the riots currently assailing Greece: Moreover, without the Soviet Union, European socialists have few foreign causes to take to heart: few understand Putin’s Russia, and today’s totalitarian-capitalist China is too far and too strange. And, since Barack […]

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Pressure Mounts on Alexander Lebedev

By James Kimer | Published:

Remember back when Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev criticized the government and founded an opposition party?  Seems like that may now cost him his stake in Aeroflot, as the state banks selectively withhold a bailout.  The Financial Times is pushing the rumor: An outspoken Kremlin critic could face the loss of a 25 per cent stake […]

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The Unreal Realists

By Robert Amsterdam | Published: December 19, 2008

Realism has a lot of advantages over other schools of thought on international relations.  If, for example, you find yourself in an ardent debate over Russia, you can easily dismiss the competing approaches as being “unrealistic” – or naively optimistic – thus winning the point by the simple title of your paradigm. The truth is […]

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A Prediction on Ecuador’s Next Currency

By Robert Amsterdam | Published:

Although it may not be apparent from my recent blog posts, I have just completed a week-long business trip to Latin America.  Among the many interesting topics in the news my colleagues and I have been discussing is Ecuador’s decision to default on its bonds – not because they don’t have the money, but rather […]

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The Disappointment of Failed Provocation

By James Kimer | Published:

This one is from an article in the Times of London on Russia sending warships to Cuba for the first time since the days of the Soviet Union.  Also see yesterday’s post on the visit of the Nicaraguan president to Moscow. By sending its warships to the Western hemisphere, Moscow aims to show that it […]

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Russia’s Patriot Games

By James Kimer | Published:

Writing in the Moscow Times, Yevgeny Kiselyov points out that the latest changes to the criminal code on treason present some frightening possibilities. Human rights advocates are in shock. The definition of an “act” of treason is so loosely defined that prosecutors and law enforcement agencies can interpret it any way they see fit. Moreover, […]

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Meet Gao Xiqing

By James Kimer | Published:

Meet Gao Xiqing – the man who runs the $200 billion China Investment Corporation.  The Atlantic Monthly has a very interesting profile of him this week. Gao dressed and acted like a Silicon Valley moneyman rather than one from Wall Street–open-necked tattersall shirt, muted plaid jacket, dark slacks, scuffed walking shoes. Rimless glasses. His father […]

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