Russia Can Still Manipulate Ex-Soviet States
Even though it’s been almost 20 years since the Berlin Wall came down Russia still has some power. Although most eastern european countries embraced Democracy after the collapse of Soviet dominance they are still facing problems when it comes to Russia.
Currently, there is a pipeline planned to run along the bed of the Baltic Sea that will carry Russian gas to Western Europe. While the pipeline pleases western Europeans many easterners are unhappy and worried.
This pipeline could cause a deep wedge between the two sections
formerly separated by the Iron Curtain. On the one hand the pipeline will provide energy benefits to Western Europe but it could also lead to Russian domination of the former Soviet bloc because of gas.
Russia has already divided members of the European Union that vowed to act collectively to protect their security. Currently, the pipeline has to run from Eastern Europe in order to get to Western
Europe. This means that if Russia wants anything, all they need to do is stop pumping gas to the West and there will be immediate pressure oncountries in the east to comply.
This ability provides Russia with greater power because if the east
fails to comply the West will suffer and protests will rage in the
wealthier and more powerful western countries. The fear is Russia
will play pipeline politics with its neighbors.
Gazprom the Russian gas company provides Europe with 28 percent of its natural gas. There is a need for this energy because the North Seas output has declined. Unlike eastern Europeans, Russians believe that the pipeline will unite Europe. Despite the tension in Europe, the E.U. Commission and Parliament did approve the pipeline.
Even though Western Europeans favor the pipeline; former Communist
countries fear Soviet domination once again. These countries were forced into Communism and Soviet dominance after World War II and are leery about becoming vulnerable to the Soviet iron fist. They fear they will fall prey to energy blackmail and western countries will fail to support them because they are reliant on the energy Russia provides.
Just two years ago Russia shut off a similar pipeline that went through Ukraine because of a labor dispute and as a result thousands of homes throughout Central Europe were without heating and many factories had to shut down. It’s this type of incident that has not only Eastern Europeans but also many Western Europeans worried about the future.
The pipeline isn’t finished but has already divided the European Community. With the pipeline Russia will be able to pursue a divide and conquer policy. The struggle over resources is more important than the considerations of European unity.
Tags: communism, eastern europe, european union, iron curtain, online education, political science degrees, Soviet dominance, vulnerability
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