On Norman Angell and Thomas Friedman

Posted By Daniel W. Drezner Friday, September 12, 2008 - 11:29 PM Share

My latest commentary for Marketplace looks at Russia, Georgia, and the Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention. The title says, "Trade may not deter Russia from war," which is technically what I said, though I think my point was more like, "Trade may deter Russia from future war." Anyway, go check it out -- especially Brits who know how to pronounce Angell's name. Did I get it right?

EXPLORE:GLOBALIZATION, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, PERSONAL, GEORGIA, INTERDEPENDENCE, RUSSIA

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DON STADLER

3:34 AM ET

September 13, 2008

You comment on Marketplace

You comment on Marketplace that Georgia "lost it's breakaway provinces".

I think it would be more credible to argue that Georgia lost sovereignty over the breakaway provinces at least a decade ago, and the war confirmed what we already knew; the provinces were gone and Russia is capable of crushing the Georgian military anytime it chooses.

It also confirmed that Russia is actually willing to do so for two 'provinces you can buy on EBay' (to paraphrase something heard a few years ago), and that it's willing to do so no matter what the negative consequences to it's foreign relations and it's capital markets.

Summary: Russia lost billions of rubles/euros/dollars, spooked Europe pretty thoroughly - and gained 70,000 people. King Pyrrus might have some lessons for them....

IAN

4:45 PM ET

September 15, 2008

Tom Friedman is a Democratic

Tom Friedman is a Democratic hack. See his past two articles in the NY Times. He can weave a good story but he knows very little about national or international politics.