Enticement: Writer’s Message
Andrei P. Tsygankov’s book demonstrates his unique understanding of America and Russia’s foreign policies and the underlying causes of their clashes. Tsygankov is the author of the 2019 book published by Polity, titled Russia and America: The Asymmetric Rivalry. Readers of this book gain a rare understanding of the two countries’ relations, mistakes, and the perpetual possibilities of collaboration and divergence. The book comprises nine chapters, each addressing a distinct aspect of the US and Russia’s evolving engagements since the Cold War.
According to Tsygankov (2019), Russia and the United States are unequal powers capable of shaping the global order. The book argues that foreign policy is the primary source of competition between America and Russia. History shows that Russia gained power before America, particularly through the former Soviet Union regime. Accordingly, the former power focuses little attention on global dominion, instead emphasizing Europe’s unity and socioeconomic stability. The USSR adopted a communist culture that emphasized unity, fairness, and regional order.
America’s emergence and rise, often attributed to unusual providence, brought about significant changes. The end of World War II triggered mistrust and conflict between the then-two global superpowers. America’s increasing global control through material gain and the adoption of its values worldwide made it an influential force, threatening the USSR’s existence.
Through global policies and continued support for the independence of the former USSR’s member states, the US ultimately contributed to Russia’s failure, according to Tsygankov (2019). The foreign policy scholar notes that the USSR’s collapse, largely due to America’s global influence, led the US into critical mistakes that later came to haunt it. Premature contentment and relaxation led America to focus heavily on the realization of hegemonic power, erroneously assuming that Russia would decline and become a forgotten story, like many other ancient European dynasties.
A major game plan for the American side involves forming alliances, even with former Soviet Union members, while disregarding the existence of another power. Tsygankov (2019) maintains that America will not enjoy its objective for long due to the mistake. Moreover, the author notes that managing Russia after the fall of the USSR would have been easy for America had the latter party understood what Russia needed most, as is exceptionally clear through its (Russia’s) post-Cold-War foreign strategies.
For example, Tsygankov (2019) quotes sentiments expressed by some Russian foreign affairs ministers that Russia remains a significant power in the world, reiterating the point that America misread its rival’s desires. According to the US, Russia would not rise again, and the possibility of a new global power challenging America was not considered by the US administration (Tsygankov, 2019). On the other hand, Russia was prepared to defend its authority and influence by prioritizing domestic stability at the outset of the reestablishment era under Vladimir Putin.
Equally, the 1990s Russian governments exhibited substantially minimal requirements from the US for America’s intended relationship to survive. Tsygankov (2019) argues that America’s view towards Russia was that the latter would accept the US as the new global ruler and collaborate accordingly, from a loser’s perspective. The mentality implies contempt and ignorance regarding the interests of global players, partly revealing America’s realization that its success and power are beyond the nation’s and its leaders’ ability to manage and leverage.
Thus, America’s blindness to Russia’s potential significantly contributes to the current state of foreign relations with Russia. The condition favors Putin’s scheming competency, which works effectively with Russia’s outstanding natural, information technology, cyber, and media advantages to sustain the country as America’s forever rival. Notably, Russia and America: The Asymmetric Rivalry reveals a critical aspect of the emerging fears about the seemingly deteriorating relationship between Russia and America.
Confrontations between the US and Russia make many people develop fear regarding the emergence of another global war, possibly severe and more lethal than the previous ones. However, Tsygankov (2019) reveals that this fear is unfounded, based on the two states’ desire to achieve their distant power objectives and the underlying fundamental requirements for today’s freedom from each other. The US primarily seeks to become a global power, exerting control over all failed dynasties worldwide, as exemplified by Napoleonic France (Tsygankov, 2019).
On the other hand, Russia seeks recognition from the US as a superpower, expecting America to respect its former territories (Tsygankov, 2019). Targeting Georgia and Ukraine as possible members of NATO involves direct meddling in Russia’s internal affairs by America, something that Russia detests. Moreover, interfering with America’s 2016 elections and supporting Trump’s campaigns and ascension into the presidency equally amounts to Russia’s meddling with America’s domestic issues, as per Tsygankov (2019). Therefore, America’s failure to act on the matter implies a hidden appreciation of Russia as a strong power to be challenged.
Accusations and open failure to take the feared lethal action by either of the two sides show their inability to engage or deliberately initiate another world war. Tsygankov (2019) points out that self-preservation is a common goal between Russia and the US, further reiterating the impossibility of the two states fighting directly anytime soon. Talks and collaborations regarding terrorist groups’ elimination between Russia and America over the years reveal their readiness to work together whenever a challenge affecting their existence and growth crosses their path. Accordingly, what these countries silently seek is the ability to sustain their power.
Russia seeks to demonstrate its existing influence on the United States while working diligently to maintain a balance between the two nations. On the other hand, the United States uses its extensive global network to maintain its influence, despite clear indications that hegemony is no longer possible in the current world. Putin’s craftiness is particularly notable in this regard, as the president links Russia to new global forces, including China, India, and other Asian republics with significant economic capabilities.
The rise of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) alliance alarms the US, prompting it to shift its foreign policies to prioritize domestic concerns. Tsygankov (2019) presents Trump’s endeavor to relocate American forces from Asia and other global regions back to the United States as a revelation regarding America’s new realizations and shift in foreign policy. Accordingly, globalization and related developments favor Putin’s desire to see a world with more than one global superpower (Tsygankov, 2019).
China, a partner of Russia in the BRICS organization, helps Russia avoid succumbing to the West’s economic sanctions. The emergent Asian economic hub also sends a message to the US that it is no longer the world’s only economic giant. With Russia’s outstanding military capabilities, the US already appreciates the essence of China’s involvement with the Kremlin and the possibility of a new global order; therefore, it chooses to focus more on domestic issues. Accordingly, US trials to shun Russia’s persistent military might may lead America to keep pursuing Ukraine’s and Finland’s membership in the EU.
A successful entry into the European Union by Ukraine and Finland implies extended access to the Russian border by the US and its European allies. The aspect appears to many people as a favorable opportunity for the American-backed side to attack and finish off Russia (Tsygankov, 2019). However, this will never happen anytime soon, due to the involved game of might that players may never want to end, as it brings immeasurable publicity-related benefits.
Despite understanding the drama, Russia reacts to America and the EU’s advances by annexing strategic points, such as Crimea, to show America that it can defy the rival’s orders. Tsygankov (2019) further uses this logic to explain Russia’s entry into Ukraine, a strategy used by the Kremlin to prove the US wrong. Accordingly, reading the present book under review provides deep insight that helps answer many questions and concerns regarding the relationship between the world’s ever-known superpowers.
Examination
Message’s Convincing Power
The subject of Russia and America is substantially confusing to many people, including scholars and global leaders. It takes someone with deep foreign policy insight and wisdom about the two states to appreciate the dynamics behind their actions and the possible consequences for the global community. Andrei Tsygankov is one such authority, possessing not only extensive knowledge of the subject but also citizenship in both countries. Accordingly, Tsygankov’s (2019) central message is that America and Russia understand the significance of the game they play in matters of their foreign policies. Since the Cold War era, the US has sought to become a dominant global force, a goal that has led it to overlook Russia after the fall of the USSR (Tsygankov, 2019).
Russia is determined to sustain and regain its influence through global connections, with the state’s outright neglect of America’s orders serving to remind the US that it realized power long after Russia’s ascension. Tsygankov (2019) posits that the two republics consistently make dangerous, uninformed moves whenever they perceive a significant opportunity to control the other, ultimately leading to failure and the perpetuation of their asymmetric engagements.
The book utilizes three convincing accounts to support its arguments. The first explanation suggests that the relationship between the US and Russia is one of competition, rather than enmity (Tsygankov, 2019). The scholar uses the term ‘asymmetry’ to imply Russia’s stubbornness and significant success in its course, despite being weaker in several aspects relative to the U.S. Tsygankov (2019) provides the case of Russia’s military takeover of Crimea in 2014 and the nation’s 2016 utilization of its overwhelming cyber capability to influence America’s presidential elections as clear show of unequal might. Tsygankov notes that not even the US or European leaders managed to challenge Putin’s annexation of Crimea, despite America’s perceived power over the Kremlin. Therefore, it is evident that Russia remains a powerful force to the US, notwithstanding the latter party’s continued denial of this fact.
Being a dominant superpower means that America controls all its undertakings. Conversely, Russia’s use of its cyber prowess to confuse the republic’s presidential elections and even make the US have a sidesplitting president justifies its excessive ability on global issues. The two pieces of evidence, along with several others presented in the book, reveal the truth about Russia’s vibrancy and its nearly balanced power with the US.
Arguably, America would have ended Russia by now if the latter party were as feeble as the US purports (Tsygankov, 2019). Secondly, Tsygankov (2019) juxtaposes Putin and Trump to demonstrate the power tussle between Russia and America. The writer reveals the two leaders’ shared interest in uniting their countries, driven by the understanding that achieving global goals requires working together.
Russia helps Trump win the presidency, with the fellow promising to use his leadership authority to soften America’s hard line on Russia for possible collaborations. However, things do not materialize as planned due to Trump’s inability to influence the entire American community to accept Russia as a must-have partner. Lastly, Russia’s success in Asia and the Middle East, areas where America’s influence continues to decline, justifies Russia’s real power. Russia receives substantial economic backing from China, with the Middle Eastern state providing the raw materials and markets for Russian products. Thus, America lacks a way to dominate Russia, as initially intended, resulting in perpetual confrontations, scant collaboration, and meaningless ultimatums.
Message’s Worth
It is worth reading the book Russia and America: The Asymmetric Rivalry, authored by Andrei P. Tsygankov. The writer is bold, knowledgeable, and fair, as justified by his deep content on a subject that very few authors can dare write about, let alone exhibit a thorough understanding. The book helps readers understand the relationship between America and Russia and achieve peace of mind.
Tsygankov (2019) helps people learn something critical about the US: it can never initiate a global war by targeting Russia directly. Equally, reading Tsygankov’s (2019) book explains why the US leaves Ukraine and other former USSR members intending to join the EU to suffer at the hands of Russia. Accordingly, it is clear that America’s use of propaganda to realize geopolitical influence has lasted to date.
Political administrators from Ukraine, Finland, and many other states planning to violate treaties with Russia in favor of the American alliance should read Tsygankov’s (2019) book and think twice. The work under review helps us understand even the present American regime’s foreign policy, which involves excessive limitations on foreign combat engagements and an increased emphasis on domestic stability.
The world is now recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and people would expect the US to seize the opportunity to win more nations to its side, but this has not happened. The purported American divine providence may be leading the republic back to the Jeffersonian era described by Mead (2013). Therefore, reading “Russia and America: The Asymmetric Rivalry” is essential for all foreign policy scholars and the general public, given its profound insights into the subject and the influence of the two powers on the global order.
Elucidation
Author’s Attempted Mission
Russia and America: The Asymmetric Rivalry offers rare insights into transnational relations, making the book highly crucial to all students of international affairs. Technological ingenuity makes the world a connected small society, with power jets and ships cruising distances that were initially required to take months within hours. Globalization enables American firms operating in China and Africa to sell their products to markets worldwide. Consequently, anything that directly affects an individual or a nation has a ripple effect on the entire world, both presently and in the future.
Nothing more clearly illustrates the world’s interconnected nature than the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic. Originating in a small village in China, the virus spread quickly worldwide through people’s movements. Trials by some powerful states to brand and isolate China due to the pandemic could not materialize because the pandemic appeared within their boundaries before they could converge to strike a deal for defamation. The condition at hand requires humans to embrace siblinghood to integrate into the increasingly interconnected global village. The aspect is only possible when the world’s powers come together to lead others in that direction.
America and Russia are the world’s ultimate superpowers, as measured by several key factors. The countries have a lot to gain by working together, particularly in helping humanity reach new heights in matters of life stability. However, the world risks losing that rare and extraordinary reality if its mighty entities continue to conflict for personal gain. As previously hinted, many people fear that tensions between the US and Russia may escalate into a lethal world war (Pisciotta, 2020). Concerns about such an unfortunate event send more horror to the world population based on Russia’s and America’s threats to use nuclear warheads in case their ultimatums are not met.
America and Russia have daring allies, such as North Korea, whose ridiculousness led to the belief that humans now can constitute the best or the last generation. All these fears among people living on earth today continue while the US and its arch-rival, Russia, behave like nothing unusual is going on. Thus, it requires a deep understanding of the two powers’ game of influence for people to realize peace in life, which comes only from studying their foreign policies with insight.
Russia and America: The Asymmetric Rivalry’s primary purpose is to ease tensions and provide the world with a factual understanding of the engagements between America and Russia. Based on Tsygankov’s (2019) observation, neither Russia nor the US is ready to be the first to fire. The two nations have always competed for dominance, with Russia continually seeking recognition while America struggles to achieve a utopia that remains only a dream. Tsygankov (2019) expresses notable joy that what eats America’s search for dominance is not Russia, as it was perceived during the Cold War. Instead, globalization, a largely neutral force, now compels America to swallow its pride and focus more on domestic issues rather than trying to become a world ruler.
Equally, Russia can only grow and stabilize domestically, and never become a global dominator as it was before. Tsygankov (2019) notes that Russia receives its backup from China, India, and other Middle Eastern states, which alone cannot stand. Tsygankov (2019) argues that all these countries with which Russia forms alliances for economic survival also collaborate independently with the US to grow. Therefore, reading Russia and America: The Asymmetric Rivalry reveals the world to be a closed system with natural harmonizing features that limit the achievements of individualism. It is clear from the book that Russia and America are already facing a downward trajectory due to their pursuit of individual gains at the expense of other human beings.
Book’s Fitness within Current Similar International Affairs
It cannot be a coincidence that this book’s review coincides with the world’s current witnessing of Russia’s war with Ukraine. Russia and America: The Asymmetric Rivalry was published in 2019 and covered events that occurred before its publication date. However, the author’s concepts and insights predict the events in the world that hurt people and several others.
Ukraine borders Russia and is a former member of the failed USSR. Accordingly, there have been several misunderstandings in the past between the two countries, and the leadership has always sought treaty-based solutions. Tsygankov (2019) reports that the war between Ukraine and Russia results from America’s attempt to expand its influence to the critical former USSR members, who still have pacts with Russia, without consulting the latter.
Finland is another significant country that America’s advances may prompt Putin to act militarily, according to Hall (2023). Tsygankov (2019) cites Georgia and Crimea as former targets of the US’ discourteous search for expansion to access Russia’s borders. Consequently, the world now watches Ukraine suffer at the hands of its former master, Russia, with very little assistance to offer.
Russia justifies its attack on Ukraine through the ‘domestic affairs’ claim, where the country faults America’s interference. Russia fears that Ukraine and Finland’s entrance into the EU will give NATO and the US increased closeness to launch attacks or to decipher its military and cyber secrets. Moreover, America’s previous untouchability, which it demonstrated when attacking Iran and Iraq, despite Russia and other European leaders’ rejection, gives Russia justification for its hurtful deeds in Ukraine. That way, the world can only wish that Russia would not enter Finland with time out of fear that the former ally will go Ukraine’s way of developing intentions to join NATO.
Additionally, reading Russia and America: The Asymmetric Rivalry provides insight into America’s new foreign policies. Since Trump’s era, Tsygankov (2019) notes that the country has dropped its aggressive expansionist mission, instead focusing more on domestic issues. President Trump’s removal of American soldiers from the Middle East, leaving Russia to dominate the region, continues to date long after he, Trump, is gone.
The aspect seems peculiar to many people, but Tsygankov (2019) makes it openly clear. That way, the world should expect competition between Russia and America to continue, with the party regularly sensing defeat, camouflaging it until it can regain a position to strike and reinstate its power. Equally, the world population should know that America and Russia are not enemies who will erase each other, but rather competitors with unbalanced capabilities who always collaborate when necessary.
Evaluation
Tsygankov successfully writes his book, Russia and America: The Asymmetric Rivalry. The work demonstrates the author’s outstanding ability and understanding of international affairs. Information is power and has the potential to transform the world. Andrei P. Tsygankov states categorically that his writing about Russia and America stems from his desire to inform the two nations and the world about the essence of collaboration. The writer believes that access to power is divine and has a deific purpose: to enhance creation.
Tsygankov is perturbed that Russia and America do not agree to collaborate on all matters but only on things that favor their mutual growth. That way, the writer elucidates their accomplishments while working alone and demonstrates that their power is limited in this context. For example, the book describes the emergence of globalization and its detrimental effects on America’s quest for global dominance, illustrating that the world’s divine order is not one in which a single nation can control the rest. Instead, the work demonstrates that all humans on earth should collaborate to protect and sustain creation in accordance with the divine plan.
References
Hall, D. (2023). Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and critical agrarian studies. The Journal of Peasant Studies, 50(1), 26-46.
Mead, W. R. (2013). Special providence: American foreign policy and how it changed the world. Routledge.
Pisciotta, B. (2020). Russian revisionism in the Putin era: an overview of post-communist military interventions in Georgia, Ukraine, and Syria. Italian Political Science Review/Rivista Italiana di Scienza Politica, 50(1), 87-106.
Tsygankov, A. P. (2019). Russia and America: The Asymmetric Rivalry. Cambridge: Polity Press.