printable versionPartnership with Russia a key to global stability, former Sen. John Edwards says
2004 vice presidential candidate 'seriously thinking about' running for top office; says poverty is today's great moral issue
BY LISA TREI
It is in America's interest to maintain a strategic partnership with Russia—despite its slide toward authoritarianism—because the former superpower can influence a host of critical issues affecting global security, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards said April 26.
From Iran's efforts to obtain nuclear weapons to worldwide concerns such as terrorism, health and security, Russia's influence matters, the 2004 vice presidential candidate told students and scholars during a lunchtime seminar at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. "Our relationship with Russia directly connects with every one of these issues," he said.
For example, "what Russia does on Iran is hugely important to the security of America and hugely important to the security of the world," he said. "Russia is hugely important in stopping Iran from marching forward with its nuclear weapons program."
Associate Professor Michael McFaul, director of the institute's Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, introduced Edwards, who gave a talk titled "Russia's Wrong Direction: What the United States Can and Should Do." The title was taken from a new Council on Foreign Relations report of a task force on U.S. policy toward Russia that Edwards co-chaired with former Republican Congressman Jack Kemp. McFaul and institute Director Coit D. Blacker, both Russia specialists, also were members of the 25-person task force.
After the Soviet Union collapsed, Edwards said, a kind of democracy did take hold in Russia under former President Boris Yeltsin. But this was accompanied by corruption and economic chaos. "From the Russian people's perspective, things were not going well," he said. "This taste of democracy did not feel so good to them."
Under President Vladimir Putin, parts of the country have experienced economic growth and increasing stability, due in part to income from rising prices of gas and oil, which the country produces. But at the same time, Edwards said, Putin has "moved Russia dramatically away from democracy." Today, he added, no one, apart from Kremlin officials, claims that Russia is a democracy. "Putin has centralized power, effectively taken over the mass media and effectively quashed any political opposition," he said. "This dramatic move away from democracy is a trend—it's continuing."
The big question is what will happen in 2008, when the next Russian presidential elections take place, Edwards said. According to Russia's constitution, Putin cannot run for president, but his effective control of political campaign financing and the media means he can control the election of his successor, Edwards explained.
Until then, America and Europe—allies that share a values-based relationship—must collaborate when confronting Russia on difficult global issues.
"One thing we have learned is that when we speak with one voice with our European allies it has an effect," he said. "We are clearly more powerful when it's us and Europe speaking to the Russians than just us."
Edwards said he supports keeping Russia in the G-8, a group of leading industrialized democratic countries that is scheduled to meet in St. Petersburg this summer. But he added that the G-7—the group minus Russia—might meet in advance to discuss how to deal with critical issues Russia does not want to confront. At the forefront, he said, is the unfolding crisis of Iran's nuclear ambitions. "So far, [Russia] has been all over the place. It doesn't want to do or say anything," Edwards said. "This is a real litmus-test issue for both America's relationship with Russia and Europe's relationship with Russia. It's such an explosive and dangerous situation."
According to Edwards, Russia cares about the success of the G-8 meeting because it wants to view itself as a great, influential power. The G-7 may be able to use that leverage to show Russia that it is in its own interest to support the common global interests of its democratic partners. "Is it better to have them on the outside or is it better to have them on the inside?" Edwards asked. "For now, the judgment of the task force is, let's keep them on the inside." At the same time, Russia must demonstrate a serious and legitimate transition of power is possible in 2008. "We shouldn't exaggerate our power with Russia, but we need to use the tools we have," he said.
During the seminar, Edwards focused almost exclusively on Russia, but afterward he discussed broader issues, including whether he will run for president in 2008. "I am seriously thinking about it, but I haven't made a decision," he said.
That evening, the former senator also spoke to a packed audience at Kresge Auditorium about poverty in America. He highlighted his current work as director of the University of North Carolina's Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity. Poverty is "the great moral issue of our time," he said.