Mutual Security: A New Approach To Soviet-American Relations
Simultaneously printed in America and the Soviet Union, this book is the product of a two-year collaboration between the Center for Foreign Policy Development at Brown University and the U.S.A. Institute in Moscow. The pace of change first made its innovative approach mainstream, then cast into doubt its implicit assumption that each nation is the other's main security threat. Its rich analyses range widely, however, and its approach to "mutual security" is powerful-not common sense or cooperation, but rather "a tough-minded joint investigation of each side's fundamental national security interests and the means by which perceived threats might be reduced."
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What enthusiasts took for a global rush to democracy may be reversing direction, with backsliding and stalled transitions in the former Soviet Union, Africa, the Middle East. So far, one sees disarray or new strongmen much like the old; no competing ideologies seem to be beckoning. Market reforms have not been the cause in most cases. More affluent countries with Western ties seem to be sticking the course better. However the trend plays out, it should lead the administration to rethink democracy promotion. The truth is that U.S. policy is not significantly responsible for democracy's advance or retreat in the world.
Russia's interests demand good relations with everyone, but older, darker forces tempt it to avenge its fall from superpowerdom. Westernizing democrats govern for now, but ex-communist elites and embittered generals scheme to re invigorate the military and reassert control over the borderlands. Their machinations are creating a fault line across the oil-rich Caucasus and Central Asia. For Russia to neglect its reconstruction to pursue the illusion of power would be a monumental mistake. While the expansion of NATO is misconceived, the West must not encourage Russian hard-liners with unmerited concessions.

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