One hundred years after the revolutions, Russia is well entrenched as a global leader once more. 1917 brought about change at every level in Russian society, from deposing the tsar and his regime to introducing communism and its varied trappings. The centenary marks a resurgence of a country, whose fortunes and travails have undergone rapid transformation faster than even the Bolshoi pirouettes.
 |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands after signing an agreement. CARLOS BARRIA, POOL/AP |
Withdrawing from the First World War, entering the second and signing a pact with Hitler, encountering the Germans themselves thereafter in Operation Barbarossa, capturing Berlin while being in an alliance with Britain and America, waging the decades long Cold War when ally turned adversary, installing the ‘Iron Curtain,’ watching it crumble and embracing Glasnot and Perestroika, only to reject such liberal ideals, and rising once more. Russia has truly seen it all, and in the short space of a hundred years.
Despite the challenges encountered, Russia would rebound, always has and always will. The present state of buoyancy could be traced to April 1996. The establishment of an organisation with neighbours in the region saw the birth of the Shanghai Five. While the alliance with China was significant, the inclusion of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in 2001, resulting in the renaming of the grouping, would prove to be timely. Incorporating these Central Asians states into the Shanghai-based body saw the building of an alliance which would grow to three-fifths of the Eurasian continent with India and Pakistan included.
Whilst treading differing paths in the understanding and utilization of communism, Russia and China chose to work in unison. Running contrary to T. N. Kaul’s description of a meeting between Mao and Khrushchev in which the Chinese leader had directed ‘You look after Europe and leave Asia to us,’ drawing a sharp response from the Russian who retorted ‘no one has authorized us to look after Europe, who has authorized you to take care of Asia?’ That was in 1958. Many decades later the leaders of the two countries have displayed the ability to work together. From facing a common enemy to military drills, Presidents Xi and Putin have pledged to build ‘global strategic stability,’ as they realistically consolidate ties.
The nomenclature for Asia is roughly spread into South Asia, East Asia, South-East Asia, West Asia and Central Asia. Yet conveniently or otherwise, North Asia remains ignored. Russia thus gains an extended Asian identity through geography. In October 2016 Putin welcomed neighbouring countries stating that ‘we cannot choose our neighbours and that is a good thing.’ Possessing strength, influence and determination, the Russian leader is today identified as one of the strongest, if not the strongest man to strut the world stage, as Chancellor Merkel retains the title for the opposite gender.
Thereby the SCO, growing as it has from a ‘confidence-building forum to demilitarize borders’ to focus on increased military and counter-terrorism cooperation, and intelligence sharing. Having seen political summits amalgamated with peace games in Bishkek in 2007, intense cooperation between the SCO and the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation and the formulation of an Anti-Extremism Convention, the outfit has realized the need to respond to growing challenges from outside the region and to respond collectively if an impact is to be made.
The inclusion of India and Pakistan bodes well for many. Enabling the SCO to shake off the common criticism of authoritarianism, the inclusion of the largest democracy annuls any qualms critics may have. India and Pakistan receive the opportunity of working closely with each other and with China and Russia respectively as they allay their past misgivings, and bilateral differences for a greater cause. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation has a sliver of hope if neighbours decide to work in unison. The formula is thus a win-win situation.
Just as the 20th century was dubbed the American Century and the 19th identified as the British Century, the 21stit is widely argued belongs to Asia. Robust economic growth, rapid development, expanding populations and poor performances in other quarters of the world, indicate a possible realization of an Asian Century. With the inclusion of Russia, through the SCO and as a northern neighbour in the greater Asian region, aspects of power are thrown into the formula.
With Russia, China and India, the prospects remain endless.
- Editorial
- Editorial
