The reinventing of Mr. Russia

I tend to personify countries. In my world, Mr. Japan is the subservient robot loving techno nerd, Mr. America looks like General Patton, and Mr. Columbia is clad in a fedora, alligator shoes and a crisp white suit.

Brad Pitt will forever be Columbian in my brain.

(Just for the record, the only country personified by a female are any of the Nordic countries – they all look like leggy supermodels)

However the identity of Mr. Russia has given me some trouble. Originally it consisted of a scruffy, hard worn man in his late 40's sitting at a table in a dilapidated kitchen wearing a wife beater while downing shots of vodka.

But today's Mr. Russia has transformed himself remarkably --

I suppose having grown up in the 1980's colored my perspective of our Russian comrades. The geo-political landscape during this period had never been more polarized: either you were an enlightened Western Capitalist or a God-hating Communist.

News reports instilled in me a fear of the "Red menace", highlighting the impressive Soviet military arsenal with its thousands of nuclear tipped missiles all aimed at North American cities. Then there were the documentaries showing Soviet armies violently putting down revolution after revolution behind the Iron Curtain, as well as dreadful reports of Christians being tortured in secret Communist prisons. But worst of all was that undefeatable steroid-pumped boxing Russian Superhero who pounded Apollo Creed to death (wait, no that was Rocky IV). 

Needless to say Ronald Regan and Hollywood flicks like Red Dawn (featuring a fictitious Russian-Cuban invasion of America) didn't help alleviate my fear of the Russians either.

But lately a little of the old Russian man is bleeding through. My guess is that Mr. Medvedev and Mr. Putin are having a hard time letting go of the whole “losing to the Americans during the Cold War” thing. Seeing that the Communist mis-adventure didn't exactly benefit Russia economically, it seems they've finally figured out the best way to regain their former Soviet glory.

Instead of reinforcing failure by returning to a Soviet-Communist model, their plan is to embrace those Capitalist economic principles that seem to benefit the State, while simultaneously promoting Mr. Putin's strongman image.

The former (strong economic growth) supports the latter (Putin as Hero of the new Russia), as it gives Putin the foundation on which to promulgate an image of a self-assured and thriving Russia not only domestically, but internationally as well.

Recent nationalization of Russia's oil and gas have certainly bolstered the State financial coffers, enabling a repositioning and recapitalization of Russian military forces. More importantly, it seems Russia has been keen on regaining the influence it had during the Soviet era. 

The pacification of Chechnya -- as well as Russia's successful attempt at thwarting Georgian reclamation of South Ossetia in 2008 -- has seemingly emboldened Russia in its attempt to regain its status as a recognized player in International affairs.

Russia's emboldening stance, particularly when it relates to Russia's traditional sphere of influence, is clearly demonstrated in its relationship with its old allies Iran and Syria.

Having supported these countries in their numerous wars against the Israelis, Iran and Syria have continued to look to Russia for political “protection”, especially when threatened by UN security council members like Britain, France and the US regarding human rights violations or Weapons of Mass Destruction issues.

In fact, Russia (as represented by the Soviet Union) has used its veto 123 times during the UN's existence, 40 times more than the next runner up, the U.S. The most recent instance of this was Russia's October 2011 veto of a draft report condemning the Syrian government crackdown on protesters.

If anything, Russia's support of Syria and Iran, both morally and physical, is increasing. In defiance of the international community, Russia recently sent a fleet of warships into Syrian waters in a show of solidarity with the Syrians, an unheard of gesture in this tension filled part of the Middle East.

Russia's siding with Iran regarding the latters suspected nuclear weapons activities has certainly upped the stakes, considering that Canada, Britain, and the US just agreed to implement heavy sanctions on Iranian financial institutions. Understandably, Russia has decided to play political hardball by threatening to move offensive nuclear missiles closer to their European border (allegedly to counter US defensive missiles placed in Europe to protect against Iranian ballistic missile attacks).

In response, the US decided it would no longer honour the 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed forces in Europe, an arrangement by which the Russian military was allowed to visit NATO bases to ensure the terms of the agreement were not violated. As such, America will no longer provide data to Russia on conventional weapons and troops in Europe, citing non-compliance by Moscow.

This all leads me to believe that Mr. Russia also has an inferiority complex, possibly from being a little on the short side. Regardless, with an increased role on the world stage, it is likely Mr. Russia may end up looking just like this:

Coming soon to a theater near you: Rocky XVIII -- Return of the Russian