Analysis Of How To Avoid A New Cold War

Title of text: How to Avoid a New Cold War

Name of text producer: Zbigniew Brezezinki

Genre: Essay

Source (if applicable): TIME

Zbigniew Brezezinki's essay "How to Avoid a New Cold War" highlights the ever-growing return of the Russian presence on the world stage. The essay looks to compare the US-Russian relationship today to the relationship during the Cold War, and attempts to establish a definite connection between the situations ultimately signaling the risk of a new Cold War. Brezezinki seeks to place blame on Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and US president, George Bush for the ever increasing tension, whilst depicting the citizens of both countries as the victims of their disastrous rule. The establishment of a connection between the events occurring today and the signal of a new Cold War is approached by comparing and analysing the events though various stages. Brezezinki firstly looks at targeting the relationship (or lack of relationship) between Vladimir Putin and George Bush. Brezezinki describes the current "friendship" as an "elaborate charade of foreign friendship". This is then likened to the similarly staged "friendships" during the Cold War between "F.D.R and 'Uncle Joe' Stalin, Nixon and Brezhnev, Clinton and Yeltsin". All of these relationships ended in mutual disappointment, and we are directed to believe that the current one is heading in a similar direction.

"How to Avoid a New Cold War" also compares the aggressive behaviors of both leaders. "The regrettable wars both nations have launched: Russia in Chechnya, and the US in Iraq", are likened to the obsession of both countries during the cold war to dominate over world issues.

The portrayal of Russia and America in the essay is commonly referenced to the effects of the current acting presidents which are representative of their characterisation. For example, it is commonplace within the essay for Brezezinki to say "Putin's Russia" or "Today's Russia" instead of just "Russia". By doing so he tries to establish the fact that the actions of both nations, and the values which are represented by these action, are motivated by the current heads of state; that behind this there is relatively no driving public support for the actions of Putin and Bush. We are given the impression that this New Cold War is rather caused by the bickering and mad-man-tactics of these two men.

It is hence impossible not to notice a sense of a satirist tone prominent in the essay. The title itself suggests a reference to the popular set of do-it-yourself books, this time aimed at the "dummies" running the most powerful nations in the world. We can further substantiate this kind of black humor with the