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Ukraine V

Well, you could as reasonably ask who the “we” were in the post I was responding to. But as the initial question was about democracy I rather assumed we were using the collective “we”, not naming individuals.

In this case Fukuyama’s book was greeted by the media with a certain enthusiasm and many news articles and interviewees talking about the triumph of liberal democracy.

Anyway, Post has been edited for clarity

A book written by someone hardly anyone has heard of celebrated by a few media heads hardly anyone has heard of. In other words, almost completely meaningless.
 
absolutely. It is terrifying. It also seems like most of the western world is completely oblivious to the threat.

This is key IMHO:

‘Since the start of the invasion trade between Russia and China has increased, and China is the biggest importer of Russian oil.’

Of course, much of that oil is used to supply the west with tat, so we’re feeding the beast. I suppose many don’t care as long as they can buy cheap stuff. It’s as if we’re so desperate to keep the engine running, we haven’t noticed that someone has redirected the exhaust in through the rear window.
 
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A book written by someone hardly anyone has heard of celebrated by a few media heads hardly anyone has heard of. In other words, almost completely meaningless.
The point is that the people who had heard of it (politicians, journalists, policy makers) were in a position of disproportionate influence.

I mean, the vast majority of normal people have never heard of Milton Friedman but the Anglosphere has been reshaped by his economic ideology.
 
Fukuyama's book was controversial from the moment it came out, and criticized by many thoughtful US commentators. It certainly coincided with the peak of the US' unipolar fantasies. Seems a long time ago.
Indeed. Though it did provide a theory much to the liking on neoliberals on both sides of the Atlantic
 
A book written by someone hardly anyone has heard of celebrated by a few media heads hardly anyone has heard of. In other words, almost completely meaningless.
The fact that you haven’t heard of it does not make it meaningless.

Just as there will likely be quite a few other meaningful books out there that you haven’t read.
 
Didn't the author rescind the main thesis by now?

And the main effect, if any, seems to have been the reduction of military spending by Europe.

Which of course was noted by Putin.

Or is Fukuyama now being blamed for starting this war? Together with the Biden Crime Family (tm), CIA and Chicago Boys?
 
The point is that the people who had heard of it (politicians, journalists, policy makers) were in a position of disproportionate influence.

I mean, the vast majority of normal people have never heard of Milton Friedman but the Anglosphere has been reshaped by his economic ideology.
Yes, precisely this. Friedman is a good example of someone who has been permanently meaningful for half a century. Regardless of how widely read he is, his ideology, or at least how it is commonly interpreted, has framed our every day existence, our every day narrative, our NHS, our standard of living, our quality of life and created a political system with its end in an ever widening wealth gap and a rise of far right groups and their influence

Fukyama is part of a neoliberal continuum which is why he was wrong in declaring its end in the early nineties. The neoliberal project has still not reached its end by a long way, it is still testing the boundaries of wealth inequality.

I hope Ukraine’s stated commitment to improving social provision and investing in human capital remains intact, and affordable, after this bloody stupid war
 
The ICC (International Cricket Council) have got it in for Putin:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-64994087
I can imagine the punditry on Russian state TV tonight:
“It’s a stitch up. We can flatten the Court in The Hague tomorrow with our hypersonic missiles if we want”.

There’s a grim reckoning that comes with this- we’re is facing an actual tyrant with a vast potential army and a huge (possibly quite flakey*) nuclear arsenal.

* there’s no reason to believe the maintenance budget hasn’t been nicked.
 
Beijing not reporting it (yet...), but peace will (probably) be on the agenda next week. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202303/17/WS64145803a31057c47ebb5247.html

"The visit can help Ukraine and Russia keep alive the hope of dialogue and keep the door open to a political settlement, because China refuses to take sides in the conflict, and remains committed to helping restore peace, while calling on the international community to create enabling conditions for peace talks. The visit, apart from deepening mutual trust between the two countries and advancing their comprehensive strategic partnership, will also be aimed at restoring peace in Eurasia."

A potentially important moment for the world. Xi doubling down behind Putin and criticising the US or Xi going with a genuine desire to try and get a ceasefire? Two very different histories could await the world depending on which one we see.
 
Beijing not reporting it (yet...), but peace will (probably) be on the agenda next week. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202303/17/WS64145803a31057c47ebb5247.html

"The visit can help Ukraine and Russia keep alive the hope of dialogue and keep the door open to a political settlement, because China refuses to take sides in the conflict, and remains committed to helping restore peace, while calling on the international community to create enabling conditions for peace talks. The visit, apart from deepening mutual trust between the two countries and advancing their comprehensive strategic partnership, will also be aimed at restoring peace in Eurasia."

A potentially important moment for the world. Xi doubling down behind Putin and criticising the US or Xi going with a genuine desire to try and get a ceasefire? Two very different histories could await the world depending on which one we see.

Unfortunately he won't feel he owes us anything, historically we've been enemies of China and there seems to be little will to be nice to them.

A bit of pragmatism in relations would help, their civilisation is totally different.
 
Beijing not reporting it (yet...), but peace will (probably) be on the agenda next week. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202303/17/WS64145803a31057c47ebb5247.html

"The visit can help Ukraine and Russia keep alive the hope of dialogue and keep the door open to a political settlement, because China refuses to take sides in the conflict, and remains committed to helping restore peace, while calling on the international community to create enabling conditions for peace talks. The visit, apart from deepening mutual trust between the two countries and advancing their comprehensive strategic partnership, will also be aimed at restoring peace in Eurasia."

A potentially important moment for the world. Xi doubling down behind Putin and criticising the US or Xi going with a genuine desire to try and get a ceasefire? Two very different histories could await the world depending on which one we see.
The ICC indictment creates a bit of a problem for "shalom ahshav" diplomacy.

I don't think Putin can be a party to any kind of diplomatic agreement as an indicted ICC felon.

Meeting with him is also going to be very problematic for Xi.
 
Beijing not reporting it (yet...), but peace will (probably) be on the agenda next week. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202303/17/WS64145803a31057c47ebb5247.html

"The visit can help Ukraine and Russia keep alive the hope of dialogue and keep the door open to a political settlement, because China refuses to take sides in the conflict, and remains committed to helping restore peace, while calling on the international community to create enabling conditions for peace talks. The visit, apart from deepening mutual trust between the two countries and advancing their comprehensive strategic partnership, will also be aimed at restoring peace in Eurasia."

A potentially important moment for the world. Xi doubling down behind Putin and criticising the US or Xi going with a genuine desire to try and get a ceasefire? Two very different histories could await the world depending on which one we see.

China Daily is an English-language daily newspaper owned by the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party.Wikipedia
 
Well he can with the US, who also don't recognise the ICC.
For what reason? Why would we be signing anything with Putin?

I think Ukraine would be the natural signatory to any negotiated treaty with Russia.

And they aren't going to sign anything with an indicted ICC felon.

A serious blow to the "peace at any cost" camp indeed...
 


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