November 10, 2016

A new direction for US-Russia relations?


A new direction for US-Russia relations?

What the U.S. election means for Russia

It’s not just America-centrism: Russia’s abuzz with the question of what a Trump presidency will mean for Russia. Here’s a sampling.

  • Russia has been bordering on pariah territory with the rest of the Western world. Some think a president who’s fond of Putin may improve U.S.-Russia relations – though that bond might also fuel some of Russia’s more authoritarian tendencies.
  • On the other hand, Russia – and foreign policy in general – aren’t exactly Trump’s top priority. He may look more like the kind of candidate most Russians could get behind, but the main thing many political scientists are predicting is a lot of unpredictability.
  • Poli sci aside, some Russian Trump fans threw celebratory parties that might look pretty familiar to red states in the U.S. These Russians see the billionaire-turned-politician as being on the front line in “the struggle between the global elite and ordinary folks.”
  • Still, some say that those at the top of Russian government aren’t as thrilled as you might expect: a messy election may bolster feelings of anti-Americanism, but adapting to a Trump presidency could be more complicated for Putin’s Russia than anticipated.

In Odder News

rbth.com
  • A Russian Trump can also be a winner: a cat named Trump, formerly “employed” catching rats in St. Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum, was showered with treats in honor of the feline’s namesake’s victory.
  • It doesn’t stop at cats: Burger King in Russia is all set to preview the “Trump burger.”
  • One way to cut spending: reduce water temperature by 10 degrees in Russian homes. That’ll help jolt people awake in the morning.

 Quote of the Week

“We know that this will not be easy, but are ready to take this road.”
—President Vladimir Putin, in his statement congratulating president-elect Trump, on the difficult task of mending U.S.-Russia relations.

Want more where this comes from? Give your inbox the gift of TWERF, our Thursday newsletter on the quirkiest, obscurest, and Russianest of Russian happenings of the week.

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
Turgenev Bilingual

Turgenev Bilingual

A sampling of Ivan Turgenev's masterful short stories, plays, novellas and novels. Bilingual, with English and accented Russian texts running side by side on adjoining pages.
Chekhov Bilingual

Chekhov Bilingual

Some of Chekhov's most beloved stories, with English and accented Russian on facing pages throughout. 
How Russia Got That Way

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.
Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.
Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

This astonishingly gripping autobiography by the founder of the Russian Women’s Death Battallion in World War I is an eye-opening documentary of life before, during and after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
Jews in Service to the Tsar

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955