Tres Interessante

Indeed. But the way that the powerful has exercised its power has changed recently. During the Cold War it was about the US blocking whatever the Soviets wanted to do and Moscow vetoing whatever Washington wanted. Stalemate. But enshrined in that standoff was the idea that national sovereignty was indeed sovereign. Spheres of influence had to be respected for stability’s sake. Once the Iron Curtain came down things started to change. The UN started to be used by liberal governments, and not so liberal governments, as a route via which they could ignore national sovereignty and invade countries with the justification of “humanitarian intervention,” or “International Security.”

From a blog comment by beatroot. Apart from the UN specific commentary- I very much think that the UN ought still be around, as it is not entirely vestigial- it much mirrors what I have been saying for eons.

And I thought it was such a good thing when the Cold War ended! I remember saying to myself- now all that ugliness is gone, how about heading for Moscow someday. Who knew that the Cold War era was actually safer for most people? Well, for practically everybody? No one could touch the Russians, and the Russians couldn't touch anyone. There were a few casualties on either side; nothing really major, for fear of offending the other or giving them a pretext to have the world support their cause. But at the same time it was ugly and nasty and people were sneering at each other and creating ludicrous propoganda about the other side. It wasn't nice, but it kept the elves in the workshop occupied. Look what is happening now- ugh, ugh, ugh.

That having been said, although Russia was sort of a hothouse for something new rearing its head- that is, until certain commentators (sshh) sold them on a different direction- I can't help but feel that Russians are capable of liberalism. This in spite of Michael Ignatieff's pointed and stringent critiques of liberal democracies in favour of totalitarian regimes. Although I have been noticing on news sites like the Toronto Star's worthies, the anti-Ignatieff comments are out in full swing. Just not about things like torture. Oh dear me. One day they'll learn! Hopefully it won't take too long...