The Cold War, an exception in the historical Russian-American relationship ?

Résumé du document

Will the Cold War, in future be seen as an exception in the history of Russian-American relationship including the contemporary period (1992-2004) ? The Cold War lasted for nearly fifty years and has contributed to shape the whole world to the same extent that the two world wars have done, except that during this conflict there was no direct confrontation. Two superpowers faced each other until one of them collapsed, to create a new world in which the United States will be considered as an "hyperpower", expression used by Hubert Vedrine, a former French Foreign Minister. Such an unprecedented event should contribute to consider the Cold War as exceptional. However, in the history of Russian- American relationship, we will tend to consider the cold war more as the rule than as a peculiarity.

Extraits

[...] Kennedy would change in the need to “make the world safe for diversity”. Actually, it would be more honest to say that both were interested in preserving their interests, the Americans needing to ensure a continued access to Western European Countries and be able to build an international network that could enable them to acquire greater importance and influence in the world in terms of economic exchanges but not only. Indeed, during World War Two a part of the European population had discovered the ‘American way of life' throughout some of the items GI had brought with them. [...]

[...] It seems to me that here lies the main problem of Russian-American Relations: both countries feel he necessity to secure their borders. That American forces could stay in Europe threatened Soviet power, while its will to extend to the West was perceived as a hostile act by the United States. Both countries felt the other one as a threat, and both decided to share the remains of Europe as well as the world as the Cold War was going on. [...]

[...] Few years before, in 1992 has been signed the Charter of Russian-American Partnership and Friendship, a symbolic sign. In a very different form, the immediate and strong support that President Putin showed toward the United States and its President after11/9 seem to indicate that Russian American Relations are now perfect. However, it is known that such a support also served Russian interests, justifying in a certain extent war against Chechnya. This is for me a proof that still nowadays, Russia is very concerned about securing its territory. [...]

[...] The aids received by the country from international organization as from its former adversary were so insufficient that they could appear to the Russian population as ridiculous, this all the more than even when the aids were more important only a tiny sums raced the people, most of the money being siphoned off. The issue of NATO expansion to the Eastern Europeans countries, including countries of the Warsaw Pact as the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary became members in 1999, was another element to embitter Russian people. Russia admitted this because she wanted to be involved in the international network. Opposition to the West was ended, as exemplified by its integration to the Council of Europe in 1996. [...]

[...] Russian American Relations Will the Cold War tend to be seen by future historian as the rule or the exception in the historical Russian-American relationship? contemporary period (1992-2004) The Cold War lasted for nearly fifty years and has contributed to shape the whole world in the same extent that the two world wars have done, except that during this conflict there was no direct confrontation. Two superpowers have faced each other until one of them collapse, to create a new world in which the United States can be considered as an “hyperpower”, expression used by Hubert Vedrine, a former French Foreign Minister. [...]