Economist Podcasts Back to the USSR: Russia and Ukraine
Dec 20, 2021
Arkady Ostrovsky, the Russia and Eastern Europe editor for The Economist, dives into the historical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, explaining why these two nations remain at odds since the Soviet Union's fall. Callum Williams, a senior economics writer, explores the evolution of the restaurant industry, highlighting how societal changes and rising costs have transformed dining out into a cultural experience. They also touch upon the pandemic's impact on culinary habits and share insights on 2021's best books, blending history, economics, and culture.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Power Shifts and Revolt
- Shushkevich and Kravchuk lost power in Belarus and Ukraine to Lukashenko and Kuchma, respectively.
- Yeltsin faced a revolt by nationalist, communist hardliners in Russia in 1993.
Putin's Rise and Vision
- Putin's rise marked a shift towards portraying Russia as a strong, powerful state, resonating with public desire.
- Putin's vision focuses on personal enrichment, wealth, and maintaining power, not a specific geopolitical strategy.
The Divorce Analogy
- Ostrovsky compares the Russia-Ukraine relationship to a divorce, with Ukraine's independence as the initial separation.
- The situation escalated in 2013-2014 when Ukraine sought closer ties with the EU and NATO, leading to Putin's annexation of Crimea.
