Feature

Journalist Steve LeVine Discusses Georgia-Russia Relations

By Elizabeth Vivirito, MPP'10

On Wednesday, October 22, journalist Steve LeVine visited the University of Chicago to discuss the recent violence in Georgia as a part of the International House's World Behind the Headlines Series. During his talk, LeVine outlined both current and possible future U.S. foreign policy in the Caucasus.

LeVine, a foreign affairs correspondent for Business Week, discussed the Georgian-Russian conflict in South Ossetia in early August. Though Russia openly invaded Georgia's borders, the Western world failed to act to deter Russian aggression. LeVine said that from Russia's perspective, the move made sense. "Putin is seeking Russia's strategic interests; it's the U.S. [that] doesn't understand [its] own interests in the region."

As a former writer for the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, LeVine has been covering the region for over a decade and has seen tremendous societal change. He described the vast differences between contemporary Russia and life in the former Soviet Union. "Russians live better now than in the entirety of their history," he said, pointing to the rise in standard of living especially in Moscow.

This increase helps explain Vladimir Putin's popularity within Russia, though outsiders tend to perceive him as a powerful and corrupt dictator. LeVine did point out one major criticism of Putin's rule. "Putin and Russians regard themselves as a rightful member of the G8," LeVine stated. "However, Russia is the only member [of that group] that condones murder" as a regular part of politics.

LeVine has examined this "culture of death" in his new book, Putin's Labryinth. In it he looks at five politically motivated murders in Russia's recent history. "Putin does not stop the murders, even if he does not have a direct hand in planning them, and he goes so far as to make excuses for them after they happen."

As for U.S. policy in the region, LeVine advocated for a higher prioritization of the Eurasian countries. "The United States had lost the Caucasus [after Russia's invasion of Georgia]. We had forgotten we'd spent 15 years trying to provide those states with economic independence from Russia so they could have some political breathing room."

The more recent world turmoil in the financial arena, LeVine said, was an unexpected break for the United States.

"The global turmoil-its impact on Russia-and the collapse in oil prices creates a strategic opening for the next President of the United States," he explained. "If the next president appoints a Caucasus affairs representative who is visionary enough to strike deals with the region, it could significantly change the balance of power in the area."