Say hello to the new USSR

[Texashiker]

Russian Prime Minister Putin is calling for ex-soviet union countries to band together and form a Eurasian Union - kinda like the European Union.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15172519

Interesting, I wonder how China feels about this?

What would happen if the soviet republics banded together, and formed a Trade Union to head up against the World Trade Organization (WTO)?

 

[chihlidog]

Putin is pretty much the scariest man on the planet.

 

[K1052]

Interesting, I wonder how China feels about this?

They'll feel like it's a bunch of bullshit...which it is.

Pretty much everyone in eastern Europe who aren't Russian hates the Russians. You don't need a history degree to figure out why.

 

[Jaskalas]

They'll feel like it's a bunch of bullshit...which it is.

Pretty much everyone in eastern Europe who aren't Russian hates the Russians. You don't need a history degree to figure out why.

Russia controls a lot of their energy supplies for surviving the winter. Some countries might not be capable of refusing.

 

[Texashiker]

Pretty much everyone in eastern Europe who aren't Russian hates the Russians. You don't need a history degree to figure out why.

Russia contains some of the worlds largest oil reserves.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves_in_Russia

By 2011, Russian oil production had increased to 10,540,000 bbl/day. It is the largest producer and exporter of oil in the world.

 

[KlokWyze]

They'll feel like it's a bunch of bullshit...which it is.

Pretty much everyone in eastern Europe who aren't Russian hates the Russians. You don't need a history degree to figure out why.

Correct.

 

[K1052]

Russia controls a lot of their energy supplies for surviving the winter. Some countries might not be capable of refusing.

Still not enough of a lever to make former USSR counties abandon their already attained EU member status or the pursuit of it.

 

[K1052]

Russia contains some of the worlds largest oil reserves.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves_in_Russia

A modest lever at best. Russian oil and NG still has to go to market regardless of who they sell it to. Trade would just realign if they don't want to sell to Europe anymore.

 

[JTsyo]

The former USSR states couldn't wait to get out from under the Russian thump, I don't see them going back. Aren't many of them in NATO now?

 

[Albatross]

Lulz, let`s launch a bullsh!t plan so my soon to be presidency will have a semblance of normalcy and direction.

 

[sandorski]

Given the History of the area and the previous integration/Immigration(Russian), such an arrangement makes some sense. Despite Russia's fall from Super Power status, although it still is likely the second most Powerful Nation in the World, it also makes some sense that they would want this role in the World. Unfortunately, this is not what we need, another Power Block that would likely once again cause unneeded conflict motivated by Self-Interest. It's bad enough that the US meddles in other Nations for its' own Self-Interest, having 1 or 2(China) more Nations getting in on the game just makes things worse.

Since I bring up the US into this, let me just say something further about that. Even though I find the US's foreign meddling wrong, at least it is somewhat controlled meddling. The USSR most likely would have been far more extreme about it and as far as China is concerned, that's still up in the air as to how they would/will go about it.

It seems clear to me that the Nation-State has run its' course and accomplished all the "Good" that it can. Without a new level of Governance, we'll wallow in never ending conflict as Power-Blocks compete against each other for Power and Control. Many Institutions of this new level of Governance already exist, but until we can fully accept its' status of being greater and the legitimate next step above the Nation-State, many of our most pressing issues will never be resolved.

 

[K1052]

^

The history of the area is what makes such an economic arrangement virtually impossible for at least the next 50 or so years. Russian social/political/economic repression and deprivation (even predating the Soviets) aren't abstract concepts for those states like us here in the west, they remember.

 

[sandorski]

^

The history of the area is what makes such an economic arrangement virtually impossible for at least the next 50 or so years. Russian social/political/economic repression and deprivation (even predating the Soviets) aren't abstract concepts for those states like us here in the west, they remember.

This is why I said, "some sense" a lot. From the Russian perspective it makes perfect sense, for its' neighbours, not so much.

 

[theeedude]

This is no more like the USSR than EU is like the third Reich.

 

[ComradeBeck]

They'll feel like it's a bunch of bullshit...which it is.

Pretty much everyone in eastern Europe who aren't Russian hates the Russians. You don't need a history degree to figure out why.

This is my experience also, Eastern Europeans are not going to forgive so easily nor is their any willingness after what they have been through.

Would be kinda cool to have a new chance at USSR though, once Putin was "dealt" with.

I sooo wanna smash T-34 through the NYSE and hang the crimson flag up top reichstag 1945 style. Or possibly chase down fatass limbaugh through the streets and blast him with a patchouli loaded main cannon. -But I digress.

 

[gevorg]

Did anyone read the article? They're talking mostly about economic union like NAFTA, which is pretty obvious for a major economy like Russia. No USSR, LOL!

Pretty much everyone in eastern Europe who aren't Russian hates the Russians. You don't need a history degree to figure out why.

Bullshit, speak for yourself.

 

[hal2kilo]

Or possibly chase down fatass limbaugh through the streets and blast him with a patchouli loaded main cannon. -But I digress.

Damn! milks coming out of my nose!

 

[PingviN]

Bullshit, speak for yourself.

No, he's right, really. Eastern Europe (Balkans mainly, Belarus [almost] the exception) has a deep-rooted hatred for Russia and Russians. Talking to Latvians and Lithuanians (Estonians too, probably) and bringing up Russia is very interesting. Previous Sovjet members really don't take kindly to Russians.

True story.

 

[gevorg]

No, he's right, really. Eastern Europe (Balkans mainly, Belarus [almost] the exception) has a deep-rooted hatred for Russia and Russians. Talking to Latvians and Lithuanians (Estonians too, probably) and bringing up Russia is very interesting. Previous Sovjet members really don't take kindly to Russians.

True story.

False story, you're both wrong. The main Eastern European countries with a major dislike towards Russians are small Baltic states who blame all their problems on Russia, Poland to some degree (mostly on political level, people are pretty indifferent), Romania (who was part of Nazi regime, hence the shitty handling by USSR), and somewhat Serbia (mainly for not "saving" them from NATO invasion). The rest of Eastern Europeans, majority of which who live in Ukraine/Belarus, speak Russian, are either supportive of Russia or indifferent to it. Cities like Lviv are just small xenophobic exceptions.

Overall, the proposed economic union by Putin will be decided by Eastern European politicians, the people will have little say regardless if they like Russians or not.