ThinkTankWeekly

This Is Not the World Russia Wants

Foreign Affairs | 2026-05-08 | europe

Topics: Europe, Russia, Ukraine, United States

Visit original source

ThinkTankWeekly provides a curated entry and summary only. Full text and PDF remain on the publisher's website.

English Summary

This Foreign Affairs article argues that Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine represented a culmination of a decades-long strategy of revisionism, aiming to reshape European security and challenge the existing rules-based international order. Evidence points to Russia’s persistent efforts to undermine Western influence through actions at the UN and its promotion of a multipolar world. The article suggests Russia’s ambitions have consistently prioritized asserting its own power and rejecting constraints on its actions. Consequently, a sustained, proactive strategy focused on deterrence and supporting Ukraine’s resilience is crucial.

中文摘要

這篇《外交事務》的文章論述,2022年俄羅斯對烏克蘭的入侵,代表了數十年來修正主義戰略的終極結果,旨在重塑歐洲安全格局並挑戰現有的以規則為基礎的國際秩序。證據顯示,俄羅斯持續透過在聯合國的行動以及推廣多極化世界來削弱西方影響力。文章建議,俄羅斯一直以來都將宣揚自身權力以及拒絕對其行動施加限制作為首要目標。因此,以威懾為重點、並支持烏克蘭韌性的持續、積極策略至關重要。

Related Entries

  1. 1.
    2026-11-07 | defense | 2026-W45 | Topics: Indo-Pacific, Middle East, United States

    The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.

    Read at Foreign Affairs

  2. 2.
    2026-11-07 | middle_east | 2026-W45 | Topics: China, Middle East, Nuclear, Russia, Taiwan, Trade, Ukraine, United States

    The article argues that Donald Trump's unique and prolonged lame-duck period, coupled with domestic political pressures, makes him dangerously prone to international instability. Having exhausted major diplomatic gambits, Trump is expected to channel his energy into high-stakes, unilateral actions, primarily targeting adversaries such as Iran and Cuba. These potential actions—ranging from fresh strikes in the Persian Gulf to attempts at regime change—carry a significant risk of destabilizing regional security and triggering a global economic crisis. Policymakers must anticipate this pivot to high-risk foreign policy to mitigate potential international flare-ups.

    Read at Foreign Affairs

  3. 3.
    2026-11-07 | economy | 2026-W45 | Topics: China, Europe, Trade

    China's economic strategy is characterized by a persistent 'economics of denial,' prioritizing massive state-directed investment in advanced technology over addressing weak domestic consumption. This approach is rooted in a flawed belief that controlling physical capital will automatically generate productivity and wage growth, ignoring the structural imbalance where domestic demand consistently falls short of supply. This overinvestment and underconsumption model is unsustainable. Consequently, Beijing's policies will continue to generate global deflationary pressures and escalating trade friction, necessitating a fundamental pivot toward consumption-led growth for long-term stability.

    Read at Foreign Affairs

  4. 4.
    2026-11-07 | economy | 2026-W45 | Topics: AI, China, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, Trade, Ukraine, United States

    The Blue Wave signals significant voter frustration with cost of living and inflation, giving Congress a mandate to prioritize affordability and cost-reduction measures. Economically, the rapid build-out of AI data centers is creating localized stress, driving up skilled labor wages and straining resources, while also facing constraints from power grids and potential local regulatory backlash. Policymakers must manage this 'sequencing issue'—addressing rising costs before full productivity gains from AI can materialize—and anticipate shifts in global data center infrastructure as the market matures.

    Read at CFR

  5. 5.
    2026-11-07 | economy | 2026-W45 | Topics: United States

    The built environment workforce, comprising 15.3 million workers across 95 occupations, is foundational to modern infrastructure and economic stability. While highly paid, the workforce suffers from significant demographic imbalances, being disproportionately white and male, and often lacking clear career progression pathways. To prevent project delays and cost overruns, policy must mandate that capital asset owners treat labor market forecasting as core to project planning. Strategic interventions are required to strengthen career pipelines through robust apprenticeships, improve retention, and actively recruit younger and more diverse workers.

    Read at Brookings