Symposium on Realism and Legitimacy

I have contributed to the symposium below:

Landmarks: A Journal of International Dialogue

The Simone Weil Center’s Symposium on Realism and Legitimacy asked a slate of distinguished experts for their thoughts on Russia’s apparent loss of legitimacy, and the United States’ apparent loss of both realism and contact with reality.

We are delighted to have received extremely thoughtful responses from Anatol Lieven, James Carden, Nicolai N. Petro, Andrei Tsygankov, Ethan Alexander-Davey, Gordon Hahn, Richard Sakwa, Paul Robinson, Adam Webb, and Paul Grenier.   

Their answers can be found below. Enjoy. 

America’s Crisis of Reality and Realism (Part I)

Anatol LIEVEN, James CARDEN, Nicolai PETRO, Ethan ALEXANDER-DAVEY, Gordon HAHN

America’s Crisis of Reality and Realism (Part II) Richard SAKWA

Russia and the Question of Legitimacy (Part III) Anatol LIEVEN, Nicolai N. PETRO, Andrei TSYGANKOV, Ethan ALEXANDER-DAVEY, Gordon HAHN

Russia and the Question of Legitimacy (Part IV)  Paul ROBINSON, Adam WEBB, Paul R. GRENIER

From the Symposium:

“[T]he closure of the political West’s mind is the salient feature of our time. It generates a reality that is largely impervious to the concerns of others. This leaves little scope for empathy, let alone sympathy, for the viewpoints of antagonists. Power and ideas have fused, the hallmark of an ideology.”

— Richard Sakwa

“[O]ne force that may restore some feeling of state legitimacy among at least some westernizing Russian intellectuals … is the West itself.”

  — Anatol Lieven

_____________________________________________