Tuesday, June 30, 2009

RUSSIA : THE CENTRE OF EURASIA

National identity is part of a nation's collective unconscious. It is based partly on memory and it informs a nation about who and where it i, where to go and how it perceives the best routes to get there. National identity influences the way Russia's interests are conceived and pursued.

For Russia the myth of greatness is a profound part of historical precedent, civilizational contribution or geopolitical structure and it seeks reognition on the world stage. Russian mentality is a great power mentality.

Russia sees itself as the natural centre of a new continental bloc (Eurasia) with its own unique, socio-political and spiritual values. The Eurasian connection allows Russia to fulfill its role as a conciliator, as a connecting country, as a country that is working for an interplay of different principles.

Eurasia's heartland is made up of the Russian Federation and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). From the heartland Russia is intent on developing strategic alliances with China, India, Japan, Korea and the Middle East Region. It is also interested in cooperation with the Asia Pacific Region including the southern hemisphere nations of Australia and New Zealand. From this grand Eurasian alliance close cooperation will also flourish with Africa and the states of Central and South America.

For Russia Eurasia is a worldview, a new dynamic vision of geopolitics, with unique cultural, political, economic and spiritual dimensions.

As former Foreign Minister of Russia under President Boris Yeltsin once said ' Russia is 'predestined' to be a great power.

What the West often doesn't understand is that Russia's mission in the world today is not to imitate the West but to initiate and support a multicultural dialogue of cultures, civilizations and states.