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European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 10, No. 4

Publication Date: August 25, 2022

DOI:10.14738/aivp.104.12820. Gurevitz, M. (2022). To End Imperialistic Aspirations Russia Must be Divided. European Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(4). 801-802.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

To End Imperialistic Aspirations Russia Must be Divided

Michael Gurevitz

Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Ecology

George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University

Ramat Aviv 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel

The strive for power, a built-in default in the animal kingdom (including homo sapiens), derives

from territorialism, fight for survival, and struggle over resources, and is often accompanied by

violence and vigorous behavior. To control this aggression, law-supported social rules have

been instigated with the development of human civilizations and establishment of urban

societies. Still, most imperialistic aspirations led in the past to military offensives, conquests

and harassment of entire populations. Babylon, Persia, Assyria, Aramea, Egypt, Byzantium,

Greece, Rome, and individuals like Alexander of Makedonia, Hannibal from Cartage, Attila the

Hun, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Hitler, are mostly remembered in the human history due to their

imperialistic aspirations and conquests. In the previous millennium, European countries like

Spain, Portugal, Holland, France and the United Kingdom used their power and advanced naval

fleets to colonize distant territories and exploit their resources (“the gold is there - why not

grab it”). Another imperialistic direction was based on religious aspirations like those of the

crusaders between the end of the 11th century till almost the end of the 13th century. This violent

past has mellowed in time and so militaristic offensives have become rare, often condemned

and sometimes leading to international intervention (e.g., Kosovo). Gain of power nowadays is

usually achieved via economical means, as indeed exhibited by diligent societies (e.g.,

Germany), possession of cheap manpower (e.g., China), natural resources (e.g., Arabic oil), and

appropriate educational systems (e.g., South Korea, Japan). In the modern era after World War

II, most nations with clear internationally-recognized borders feel secure from invasion

attempts by covetous neighbors. In a case of disagreement, the international court in de-Hague

may assist and provide a legal verdict to end a quarrel peacefully. However, this arrangement

is fragile and easily breakable by arrogant leaders, who still believe in using force to achieve

their imperialistic aspirations (e.g., invasion of Iraq to Kuwait in 1991). Even more problematic

is a situation where a superpower violates the international consensus by invading and taking

control of neighboring countries {e.g., Russian take-over of the Ukrainian Crimea (Krimm), of

Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia, and Transnistria from Moldova, or, the conquest of

Tibet by China}, knowing that the fear from a global clash would limit an international

retaliation. Under such circumstances, brutality wins, while treaties, humanism, and live-and- let-live, are neglected.

The recent invasion of Russia to its Ukraine neighbor, accompanied by ridiculous justifications,

are unbearable. In fact, except for the German offensive during World War II (and we all know

how it ended), Russia was never under real threat of conquest. It is the largest country in the

world with enormous natural resources and a strong defensive system. By the establishment of

the Soviet Union, Russia has turned into a ‘monster’ with world-leading aspirations. These

aspirations were lifted in part when the Soviet Union released the hold over several

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European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 10, Issue 4, August-2022

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

surrounding countries following the ‘Perestroika’ and ‘Glasnost” headed by Mikhail Gorbachev

and his successor Boris Yeltsin, which ‘ended’ the Cold War with the West. On this background,

the recent Russian invasion to Ukraine based on imaginative fears from the West (NATO) was

astounding and created an awful crisis with tremendous destruction and a lot of casualties. To

many in the West this offensive seems insane raising fears that it may not stop in Ukraine.

Moreover, to avoid international intervention, Vladimir Putin, the current Russian leader, set a

warning about the possibility of Russian nuclear retaliation should the West get involved in the

fighting. Not only that this outrageous declaration jeopardizes the entire world, it suggests that

the Russian leadership cares less about the risks to humanity and the future of our planet, while

giving priority to their own political problems. Surprisingly, or maybe not, the considerable

opposition of many Russians to Putin’s offensive is weak with seemingly no hope to remove the

current regime from chair. The Russian propaganda justifies the military offensive, while hiding

the reality from the public eyes, and consequently many citizens are confident that this invasion

was necessary to defend ‘Mother Russia’ from an anti-Russian military move headed by the

United States of America (unbelievable thinking).

The Russians have had experience in revolutions and hostile takeover of the leadership. Still, it

seems that they have not learned much from the failure of the Bolshevik revolution, the murder

of Tzar Nicolai II (1917), and the rising of Communism and dictatorship of Joseph Stalin. It is

clear now, after more than 70 years, that socialistic economical infrastructures are unable to

compete with capitalistic systems as demonstrated also by the economic disasters in North

Korea and Vietnam. Notably, however, China differs from these countries due to their autarky

system (self-sufficiency way of life), where most of their enormous population survives in the

rural regions with minimal income and needs.

As bizarre as it looks, a ‘new Russian Tzar’ emerged, Vladimir Putin, whose arrogant behavior,

accumulated private wealth, and murderous acts against his opponents, could have fit past

reality, but not present days. Despite the enormous contribution of the Russian nation to

humanity in almost all aspects of human culture and science, their inner political situation is

quite intricate with excess political strength in the hands of army generals and Communist ‘old

timers’. Not only that a change in Russian foreign affairs might require a military-driven

revolution, it seems that the only way to avoid tyranny and restrict imperialistic aspirations,

would probably be by dividing ‘Big Russia’ to several geographical entities (perhaps according

to ethnic origin), and investing large efforts to build up a modern economy. Such revolution

seems essential before a person like Putin decides to destroy the entire world and take the

human civilization to grave together with him. In other words, prevention of inflated

aspirations may require defeat of Russia, which at present is a non-realistic scenario

considering the threats and willingness to use nuclear power. Only removal of Putin and his

followers from chair by the Russian citizens may pave the way to improvement of the economy

and restriction of the aspirations of their leadership to dominate the world. Undoubtedly and

for the future of the Russians, Stalin’s days of millions suffering or starving to death due to bad

leadership, phobia, and ignorance (e.g., Lisenko’s suggestions to take care of the deteriorating

agriculture) must be averted.