Violence and tensions are on the rise in Ukraine, as government forces clash with pro-Russian separatist groups. This fledgling civil war all started in November of 2013 when the Ukrainian President backed away from a deal with the European Union due to pressure emanating out of the Kremlin. Like a Cold-War flashback, a country had to decide between the West or the Soviets, and the results of such a choice always leave a country split.
The current Russian Czar, Vladimir Putin, has already wrestled control of Crimea away from Ukraine by deploying troops to the small region. Now parts of Eastern Ukraine want to join the Russian Federation as well, bringing the country to the brink of collapse. Putin’s aggressive actions should not be tolerated, but the issue of state sovereignty and autonomous rights make this entire geopolitical situation a learning lesson for the rest of the world.
No One Likes a Bully:
Belligerent invasion or subversive incitement should be condemned by the international community, and America has firmly backed this stance. While this notion is hypocritical, it is also the correct path to take. The issue of sanctions are widely debated, but the Russian economy is momentarily weak from external pressures in response to it’s bullying behavior. The Russian dictator’s strong handed moves are hurting Soviet credibility abroad, while President Obama’s even handed approach shows how far American foreign relations have progressed since George W. Bush. No one likes being bossed around or dealing with a bully, which is what Putin thrives on and Obama shies away from. Of course, the American conservatives have openly praised Putin’s strong leadership style to criticize Obama.
A masculinity complex from a bygone era has permeated the American Republican party. It’s clear they were raised on John Wayne movies as children, and continue to think the toughest guy in the room is the best one. There’s a time to be strong and Obama has often come up short in this aspect, but you can’t always be the bully waving your clenched fists around.
The Problem with Arbitrary Lines:
Having already gained control of Crimea, Czar Putin has begun destabilizing farther into the Ukraine. Above is a CNN map which, surprisingly, is not of the Indian Ocean, but instead shows the cultural divide within the current border of Ukraine. Pro-Russian groups have seized government buildings and, according to the American ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, these actions are “tell-tale signs” of Russian involvement.
The pro-Russian groups are wearing masks and do not have any markings on their uniforms, but it seems they match those worn by similar forces in Crimea.
Russia has troops on the eastern border of Ukraine which will either be used in an open act of war or, more than likely, are there to give the pro-Russian dissidents a sense of support. WIth the clear divide between the two cultures, a two state solution may be the way to end the bloodshed.
A proposed split should come about through democratic votes like those conducted in Crimea, free from external or secret internal pressures. Most would say that Russia is influencing these decisions, which very well may be true, but those Russian identifying Ukrainians deserve to be their own autonomous region, free to align with whomever they want. Empires are a thing of the past and large, multiethnic and multireligious countries could very well be the next to inevitably splinter. America is the shining example of how this isn’t true, but the clear divides of the population in the U.S. are bringing effective governance to a standstill.
Fifty years from now a world map will look much different than it does today, as more countries split up in favor of a more like minded, concentrated area. Those looking for a new world order or those with a belief in growing cosmopolitan regions, will be disappointed by increased secessions. If the eastern part of Ukraine wants to secede to be apart of Putin’s Russian bloc then let them go. Western Ukraine can become their own entity with close ties to the European Union. It seems like a win-win. Why does the world hold so much stock in these vast and multifaceted conglomerates called nation states? Most were created arbitrarily and can disappear arbitrarily.
Russia should not be let off the hook for creating chaos and furthering bloodshed, but if the way out of this is a two state solution then so be it. As long as Putin is in power, which could be forever, this type of aggressive foreign policy will continue. Macho masculinity is not a practical, logical, or helpful way to run a nation. Let this be a warning to future world leaders that you can be strong without resorting to macho tactics.
Lazy Activism 
