The Russia/Georgia conflict is quickly becoming characterized as a renewal of the Cold War. There is an airlift that The Wall Street Journal says “Echose of the Cold War” and "This does have echoes of the cold war," ABC's George Stephanopoulos reported on "Good Morning America" according to The Note.
Russia, readers are reminded, is the former hegemonic Soviet Union, as The New York Times writes: “The decision Wednesday to send the American military, even on a humanitarian mission, deepened the United States’ commitment to Georgia and America’s allies in the former Soviet sphere, just as Russia has been determined to reassert its control in the area.”
Russia is a post-Cold War nation, an important international player that deserves a seat at the global table. The Soviet Union is an expansionist empire that kills freedom and democracy.
If the dominant metaphor for the current conflict is the Cold War there are important implications for foreign policy, the Bush administration, Europe, and of course the current presidential campaign.
Senator McCain’s strengths are his clear vision, willingness to talk tough (or at least straight) and that he’s a war hero (which itself is a metaphor for strength and integrity). One of his biggest weaknesses is his age.
Senator Obama’s strengths are his optimism, his echoes of the young Kennedys and his “futureness.” One of his biggest weaknesses is his relative inexperience.
A Cold War metaphor is a double-edged sword for both candidates. McCain is a war hero because of the Cold War. He can say, “No one has to tell me about the importance of standing strong against communism, and what happens when politicians equivocate and negotiate with dictators. While some learned about the Cold War in university lecture halls I lived it. I know the stakes of failure.” His age becomes an asset, he demonstrates resolve, and he reminds Americans what it means to be strong against a foe, especially in tough times at home. The Cold War allows America to thrust out its chest even as things get worse domestically. Inflation may be up and employment down, but at least we’re a democracy with God on our side. The downside, of course, is that McCain risks letting people’s minds drift from McCain as POW to McCain as POW in Vietnam, a quagmire, American soldiers dying pointlessly in a war that isn’t winnable, and quickly to Iraq.
Obama is similarly in a tricky spot. If he is Kennedy-esque he would become a solid Cold Warrior, which would run counter to his anti-Iraq invasion message. If he does not come out strong, he risks being labeled Neville Chamberlain. A call for restraint and discussions would leave him open to accusations that he is young, naïve and not ready to lead in times of trouble.
I think we need new
I think we need new metaphors for this conflict; this is totally post cold war and requires some new thinking, and perhaps some greater knowledge of Russian history.
The danger of adopting a cold war framing is perhaps a false sense of comfort. After all, we won the cold war so why worry? It's kind of like watching "Star Wars" (meaning Ep. iv) for the umpteenth millionth time. The deaths of Luke's fellow x-wing pilots and the ultimate destuction of the Death Star (with the implicit loss of thousands of Boba Fett's brothers) are milestones that are more comforting than tragic on the way to final victory.
The reality is that when the bullets start flying, all bets are off the table, nothing is predictable. A vision of the region's future, not an image of the past, is the best weapon for both governments and those who follow the news.
Tim Stepich
Excellent insight.
Excellent insight - as you recall, Lucas intentionally modeled Star Wars(ep. IV)on the writing of Joseph Campbell. There are a handful of myths that we use to explain our world, and we tend to drop policies and politics into those myths.
This provides an opening for Obama, to make the point you do, that "this is not your grandfather's Cold War, it's new century, a new Russia, and new threat, we need new solutions."
to make the point you do,
to make the point you do, that "this is not your grandfather's Cold War, it's new century, a new Russia, and new threat, we need new solutions." 646-363 exam
642-436 exam
000-100 exam