The Trouble with the European Union’s Attempts to Woo Russia
The Economist comments that the same reasons European's disliked President George Bush's America can be applied to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's Russia.
"Un-European" values of militarism, nationalism, undermining the rule of law, social values and the power of Big Oil, can be observed in Russia, but do not cause similar offence, at least in the chancelleries of Western Europe. The EU still hopes that Russia is ready for "partnership."
The Economist comments that hypocrisy partly explains Europe's double standards over America and Russia; the EU is Russia's biggest trade partner. Partly, it is also Russia's skill at playing on divisions within the block. The EU hopes that modernization means aligning Russia with the union's values and norms. But Dmitri Trenin of the Carnegie Moscow Centre, says that for Russian officials, modernization means "Russia using its resources to buy assets in Europe, and Europe supplying Russia with technology."
The Economist argues that the EU has potential leverage with intra-EU solidarity and soft power, its neighborhood. Europe's values are a source of its strengths. To play to them, Europe must be clearer-eyed about who shares its values - and who does not.