The Second Cold War

PrinceShaunPrinceShaun Posts: 406
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Too early to call it this? So BBC News is reporting that Russia is modernising its nuclear arsenal, apparently in response to the U.S. announcing that it may store heavy weapons in the Baltic States (former Soviet territory), in response to Russia annexing Crimea, in response to NATO and the EU acquiring more member states and moving closer to the Russian borders.... And so on and so on.

However, the main battle of the First Cold War was mainly a battle of ideas? Capitalism vs Communism? Am I right in saying that Russia is no longer communist? Could it go back to being communist, especially as the West is shutting Russia out of various Western institutions?

Comments

  • BRITLANDBRITLAND Posts: 3,443
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    Russia isn't communist nor is Putin (he's leader of United Russia, a centre party I believe), and unless they elect Gennady Zyuganov to become President of Russia (which won't happen) and the Communist Party gets a majority in the State Duma (which won't happen), I can't see it happening.

    If there were to be a Second Cold War, it would be the US vs China, since China's becoming the biggest economy in the world and one of the most powerful armies in the world.
  • RecordPlayerRecordPlayer Posts: 22,648
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    Too early to call it this? So BBC News is reporting that Russia is modernising its nuclear arsenal, apparently in response to the U.S. announcing that it may store heavy weapons in the Baltic States (former Soviet territory), in response to Russia annexing Crimea, in response to NATO and the EU acquiring more member states and moving closer to the Russian borders.... And so on and so on.

    However, the main battle of the First Cold War was mainly a battle of ideas? Capitalism vs Communism?
    Am I right in saying that Russia is no longer communist? Could it go back to being communist, especially as the West is shutting Russia out of various Western institutions?

    Another reason was the expansion of USSR into Eastern Europe. These countries were promised elections but were later refused.
  • The 12th DoctorThe 12th Doctor Posts: 4,338
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    People are trying to argue that there is no Second Cold War because there are differences between the First Cold War and the current situation - like, for example, defining a "Cold War" as a battle between Capitalism and Communism.

    But using that logic you could argue that there was no Second World War because of the differences between that war and the First. For example, WW1 started in the Balkans, but the second war didn't, so it wasn't a world war. Stupid logic isn't it?

    In short, yes, this is a Second Cold War, a new one different from the first.
  • zoepaulpennyzoepaulpenny Posts: 15,951
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    People are trying to argue that there is no Second Cold War because there are differences between the First Cold War and the current situation - like, for example, defining a "Cold War" as a battle between Capitalism and Communism.

    But using that logic you could argue that there was no Second World War because of the differences between that war and the First. For example, WW1 started in the Balkans, but the second war didn't, so it wasn't a world war. Stupid logic isn't it?

    In short, yes, this is a Second Cold War, a new one different from the first.

    you keep banging on about, second cold war, how about third world war.
  • haphashhaphash Posts: 21,448
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    you keep banging on about, second cold war, how about third world war.

    That's already started in the middle east. :(
  • The 12th DoctorThe 12th Doctor Posts: 4,338
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    you keep banging on about, second cold war, how about third world war.

    Good point. Crimea almost set off the full-blown NATO-Russia war. There's more to come methinks.
  • roger_50roger_50 Posts: 6,884
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    I think we're still at the stage of collective willy-waving. Putin knows he can get away with Crimea and Ukraine but he also knows he can't get away with anything more, after the fallout and sanctions. Crimea/Ukraine was always a touchy area, much more so than any other in the region so a lot of experts haven't exactly been surprised by the developments. The West have to be seen to look down on it.

    My prediction is once the 'Ukraine business' eventually takes its course things will gradually go back to normal over the next 15-20 years.

    Far bigger problems elsewhere which could effect us in that time frame.....
  • MC_SatanMC_Satan Posts: 26,512
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    Good point. Crimea almost set off the full-blown NATO-Russia war. There's more to come methinks.

    Did it, aye?
  • Jim_McIntoshJim_McIntosh Posts: 5,866
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    Never really ended did it? Since WW2 at least the Americans and Russians have treated the other with suspicion and spied upon the other (and probably have elements within them who will never see the other as anything other than an enemy). We're just seeing it rise up a bit.
  • PrestonAlPrestonAl Posts: 10,342
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    well we're still at war with france.
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