Andrea Turi ha intervistato Leonid Savin, analista geopolitico, caporedattore di Geopolitica.ru, fondatore e caporedattore del Journal of Eurasian Affairs, capo dell’amministrazione del “movimento eurasiatico” internazionale, autore del libro La nuova arte della guerra (Idrovolante Edizioni). La seguente intervista è servita per la redazione dell’articolo L’Asia nel mondo postpandemico pubblicata sul sito della rivista Eurasia. Andrea Turi interviewed Leonid Savin, geopolitical analyst, editor-in-chief of Geopolitica.ru, founder and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Eurasian Affairs, head of the administration of the international “Eurasian movement”, author of various books. The following interview was used for the drafting of the article Asia in the post-pandemic world published on the Eurasia magazine website. Mr. Savin thank you for your willingness to participate in this sort of round table on the future of Asia in the international scenario after the pandemic emergency. We will mainly deal with the Russian Federation with you. First, however, I ask you: what world do you imagine after the CoronaVirus? From geopolitical point of view current pandemic of COVID-19 is just one more element in the frame of the reconfiguration of the world order. And it seems very effective if to speak about economies, trade chains, industrial sector, etc. Many are aware about the new horizons of the international system and collapse of liberalism. Unfortunately we see just now that few oligarchs (mostly in the US) have rise of the wealth during the lock-down when whole nations over the globe have suffered of the decrease. Should we recognize it as clear pattern of globalization? Probably yes. And plutocracy will survive so we can’t speak about end of the capitalism or neoliberal hegemony after coronavirus. Anyway I hope that during this crisis some business groups and national entities in many countries who are followers of the idea sovereign powers have experienced well and started (or will start) necessary actions. In other hand after restrictions and efforts of the governments of different countries there will be more suspicious atmosphere both inside the countries and for outsiders. Lets remember how France grabbed sanitary masks sent as transit via this country. Local communes, especially those effected by pandemic or/and state control will try to regain own rights and freedoms. Not forget about followers of religions who see the coronavirus pandemic as certain sign. These efforts will lead to new international nets of solidarity as well new type of borders inside our minds. Another important lesson is rise of counter-consumerism. Many people understood that they were engaged and framed by contemporary capitalist system but human is something more than just user of services and eater of products (in all senses). Lets see how it will be developed. Let’s talk about Russian Federation. How will Russia emerge from this emergency instead? I mean on the economic, social, political and for what concerns its international image. I think and sure that Russia started to deal with pandemic in late term. But better later than never. Regime of lock-down manifested some vulnerabilities of the health care system as well as...
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The Association of Studies, Research and Internationalization in Eurasia and Africa published in partnership with CeSEM – Centro Studi Eurasia Mediterraneo the fourth volume of Geopolitical Report titled “Russia-EU Confrontation/Collaboration and Future Challenges” which aims at analyzing the recent events which have characterised the relations between Moscow and Brussels and evaluating possible future developments and challenges. Russia and the European Union, friends or enemies, partners or competitors. This is the eternal dilemma that has concerned/affected the relations between Brussels and Moscow since the collapse of the Soviet Union. After the Ukrainian Crisis, the situation became worse and nowadays the distance between the two parts seems unbridgeable although the road of contrast finds its root earlier and involves the energy market and the EU Eastern Partnership. In his paper Stefano Vernole aimed at understanding whether the European Union and Russian can ever be political and economic partners. The recent confrontation between Brussels and Moscow due to the Ukrainian Crisis might create favourable conditions for the United States and China which have interests in dividing Europe and Russia and improve their presence on the European and Russian markets and domestic policies. Antimo Altomare focused the attention on the Ukrainian crisis and the European sanctions against the Russian Federation. According to the author, Brussels and Moscow need to dialogue and change this situation of distrust and conflict because the two parts are economically and politically connected. Furthermore, even though the European sanctions are a clear answer of political identity, their effect is hardly visible. Alessandro C. Mauceri highlighted the fact that the European Union and the Russian Federation might be the world’s largest economic and political centre together if they can overcome the current crisis. The author emphasized the significant role played by the energy market in Brussels – Moscow relations: indeed, Russia and the European Union are interdependent in energy import-export and transport. Mattia Baldoni and Marco Limburgo confronted the Russian and European strategy over de facto states such as Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria, Nagorno-Karabakh, Kosovo, Lugansk and Donetsk republics. On the one hand, EU statements about territorial integrity and people freedom strive for further, but on long-term, enlargement process, through neighbourhood policies and cooperation. On the other hand, Russia tries to defend leavings of post-Soviet ties, mixing hard and soft power, threatening the stability of already weak European borders, thanks to the management of most of these little cores of instability. Regarding de facto states, Emanuel Pietrobon investigated Moldova case and the geopolitical battle for hegemony over the country. In his research, the author analysed the cases of Transnistria and Gagauzia which directly involve the Russian Federation and Turkey and transform Moldova in a geopolitical battlefront where the West (Brussels and Washington) is confronting Moscow and Ankara. Laura Moreno Rincón studied the European – Russia relations in the framework of strategic communication trying to understand if the Kremlin is really supporting Right Nationalists in Europe. Also, the author tried to point out which are possible Russian proposes and advantages in politics, economy and technology belonging to the Kremlin’s support of Right Nationalists....