Moscow’s Pursuit of Power and Equality: To Run the World Alongside the US

In a recent announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized America’s sense of exceptionalism and self-regard, highlighting a long-standing desire for recognition from the United States. This sentiment, as explored in Sergey Radchenko’s new book “To Run The World,” reflects a deep-seated insecurity and injured pride that has characterized Russian leaders throughout history.

Radchenko’s research, made possible by Putin’s decision to open up Soviet archives, reveals a revisionist history of the Cold War that emphasizes Moscow’s quest for respect over ideological motives. From Stalin’s negotiations with Churchill over spheres of influence to Khrushchev’s desire for parity with the US during the Cuban missile crisis, Russian leaders have sought recognition as a great power on the world stage.

Despite brief periods of détente and attempts at cooperation, such as Nixon’s opening to China, Moscow’s ambitions were often thwarted by its revolutionary credentials and costly foreign interventions. The collapse of the USSR in 1991 marked the end of an era, but Putin’s rise to power has reignited Russia’s quest for global influence.

Radchenko’s analysis paints a bleak picture of Russia’s current trajectory under Putin, suggesting that the country’s insatiable ambition to “run the world” may lead to further conflict and instability. As the world watches the unfolding events in Ukraine, the echoes of past power struggles and geopolitical ambitions continue to shape the future of international relations.