Somebody's Brave New World

Here's a frightening little piece on what is abroad in the world of thought on international relations in the world today. 

"Vladimir Putin’s statements and actions concerning Crimea and Ukraine are not adhoc responses but rather represent a new “’Putin doctrine’” for Russian action in foreign affairs, a doctrine that dispenses with many of the most fundamental principles on which the international system has operated, according to Vladimir Ryzhkov.

In a Ekho Moskvy blogpost yesterday, the liberal historian, politician and commentator identifies seven parts of this new doctrine and discusses the way in which Putin and his regime plan to extend its application from Crimea and Ukraine to Moscow’s relations with the rest of the world (echo.msk.ru/blog/rizhkov/1292700-echo/)."

In a sense, Ryzhkov is kidding only himself in presenting a new "doctrine" of any kind in a world as pragmatic and relativist as ours. Perhaps intellectual honestly might have dictated his admitting that there is nothing here which isn't same old, same old. 

Lord, have mercy on us and on the whole world!