Where does Russias sphere of influence end?

[TheLastOne36]

Actually wouldn't the fact that the opinions are coming from a country that didn't suffer a communist regime make the opinions a bit more neutral and balanced?

Of course countries have to be careful when dealing with Russia, but it still doesn't mean that we have to overestimate the threat they pose.

So what? Are we supposed to Underestimate? i'd rather overestimate then underestimate.

 

[Shekwan]

So what? Are we supposed to Underestimate? i'd rather overestimate then underestimate.

I'm just pointing out the flaw in your last post.

As for under or overestimation, should anyone really be shocked at the fact that Russia should try to influence it's neighbours? It's what every other country does, but when Russia does it it's some grave threat to everyone's existence. It's overestimation with the purpose of scaremongering, which is never a good thing.

 

[Gelion]

It is because you live in the distant country of Ireland and have lived all your life in a non-commie land. For us, unlike you, Russia is a threat.

Where he lives, such a threat WAS england. People learn. Of course only some people learn.

Another brilliant thread by winner. 5 Gluck points.

 

[TheLastOne36]

I'm just pointing out the flaw in your last post.

As for under or overestimation, should anyone really be shocked at the fact that Russia should try to influence it's neighbours? It's what every other country does, but when Russia does it it's some grave threat to everyone's existence. It's overestimation with the purpose of scaremongering, which is never a good thing.

Replace that with former soviet bloc countries and your right. We obviously are more worried then you guys are, and honestly, we don't want to live through what we have through 46-89 again.

But even then, i seriously doubt that they'll do anything to us Central European countries. We are to far away and to close to Western Europe to let it happen again.

 

[TheLastOne36]

Where he lives, such a threat WAS england. People learn. Of course only some people learn.

Another brilliant thread by winner. 5 Gluck points.

Is England still a thread?

No.

Back then, Did england have nukes and other missles?

No.

How long ago was that?

pretty long compared to us.

Again, Another brilliant post with an impossible comparison.

 

[Gelion]

Is England still a thread?

No.

Back then, Did england have nukes and other missles?

No.

How long ago was that?

pretty long compared to us.

Again, Another brilliant post with an impossible comparison.

Ask him. Go on. As far as you are concerned, rejoice Poland is now a threat to Russia with all your efforts succeeded.

It is also disgusting to put all the blame for 49-89 on Russia as a state and as a people. This is my opinion. Not debatable.

 

[Oruc]

But even then, i seriously doubt that they'll do anything to us Central European countries. We are to far away and to close to Western Europe to let it happen again.

its Eastern Europe.

 

[TheLastOne36]

Ask him. Go on. As far as you are concerned, rejoice Poland is now a threat to Russia with all your efforts succeeded.

It is also disgusting to put all the blame for 49-89 on Russia as a state and as a people. This is my opinion. Not debatable.

I don't, only the Communistic Govornement. The Russian People, like the rest were innocent and dragged in the mess along with us. Well atleast that's my opinion.

 

[Gelion]

I don't, only the Communistic Govornement. The Russian People, like the rest were innocent and dragged in the mess along with us. Well atleast that's my opinion.

Replace that with former soviet bloc countries and your right. We obviously are more worried then you guys are, and honestly, we don't want to live through what we have through 46-89 again.

Great. So there's no point talking about AGAIN is there?

 

[TheLastOne36]

Great. So there's no point talking about AGAIN is there?

That makes no sense. What if Russia does expand into central and eastern europe? What would you call it?

 

[emzie]

Russia's influence is global. Her sphere of dominance extends through much of the former Iron Curtain.

 

[Gelion]

That makes no sense. What if Russia does expand into central and eastern europe? What would you call it?

You have to be more clear. If you are afraid of Russian expansion, it did not happen in 49-89 and Russia is not the be blamed for it.
If you are talking about Communism expansion - it will not happen again as Communism is a dead ideology.

Russia has no means to expand into Central or Eastern Europe and will not have them for decades to come. The only thing that would force Russia into some form of conflict with those nations is their arming and training by the US. Solution is simple: keep the status quo.

 

[Riffraff]

I'd say Russia's sphere of influence goes as far as the people who see Russia as a threat to their security.

 

[silver 2039]

Russia's sphere of influence encompasses all the former Warsaw Pact (Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria etc...), Central Asia, Mongolia, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Syria, North Korea, and parts of Africa.

 

[T.A JONES]

Me think its funny Russia is refered to as more a socialist state when its the US Fed that trys to create 700 billions out of mid air Rip the peoples pensions to shreds. Who was the last one to make such a blunder , Lenin or Stalin? Shteeet.

 

[Squonk]

You have to be more clear. If you are afraid of Russian expansion, it did not happen in 49-89 and Russia is not the be blamed for it.
If you are talking about Communism expansion - it will not happen again as Communism is a dead ideology.

Russia has no means to expand into Central or Eastern Europe and will not have them for decades to come. The only thing that would force Russia into some form of conflict with those nations is their arming and training by the US. Solution is simple: keep the status quo.

Soviet Union was another mask for Russian imperialism. That's not completely true, but it is to some extent. Why do You think the most fierce russian nationalists glorify communism and Stalin? Because it's made a state using russian official language and having a capital in Moscow a global power.

Expansion is not just direct territorial gains, btw.

Russia has no means of expanding - but many of its citizens simply don't know about it. They live in horsehockey conditions, so they take proud at the vast territory of their country and possibility to bull other countries.
Russia is not a world power - but its authorities want to keep their citizen in conviction that it is, because it makes people support them. Perhaps they do believe it themselves, or will start believing it. And then we're in trouble. Russia may not have possibility of expansion, but it may still try to, and that means horrible consequences.

Even worse is people in the west accepting russian illusions of grandeur as a fact and admitting Russia has some "sphere of influence". It does not. Its influences are where they really exist - Belarus or eastern Ukraine is a sphere of influence of Russia, for example, but this shouldn't mean other powers can't play there as well, nor that Russia has right to intervene there directly.
Poland definitely is not a russian SoI, nor Czech Republic, simply because Russia has hardly any supporters here, mostly because of russian arrogrant policy in post-1989 years. Sympathy for Russia in poland is lower than in 1989. In Ukraine, for the first time in history polls show that majority of population doesn't trust Russia (something like 53:37, don't remember, exactly). If Russia tried to exert political influence by diplomatic means, it would have been more successful. More effective, but less spectacular. And Russia treats foreign policy as a means of controling internal one, just like Kaczynski brothers in Poland. More quarrels abroad = "we are defending Mother Russia against traitorous Ukrainians / perfidious Poles / nazi Georgians.

 

[red_elk]

In economics:

Main export partners: Netherlands 12.3%, Germany 8.4%, Italy 8.6%, the People's Republic of China 5.4%, Ukraine 5.1%, Turkey 4.9%, Switzerland 4.1% (2006)
Main import partners: Germany 13.9%, the People's Republic of China 9.7%, Ukraine 7%, Japan 5.9%, South Korea 5.1%, United States 4.8%, France 4.4%, Italy 4.3% (2006)

In culture - global

 

[Bast]

Not everywhere, and China is a rather large corner of the world, a hell of a lot larger than australia or Ireland for that matter

You overestimate China which isn't surprising.

 

[red_elk]

You overestimate China which isn't surprising.

What's wrong? China is apparently large and very influencial country.

 

[Bast]

What's wrong? China is apparently large and very influencial country.

Please! Not even Koreans are learning Chinese.