Mikhail Gorbachev: What is at Stake Now Book Review – Former Russian Leader Details Geopolitics in Appeal for Peace

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Category: Books

Published on Sunday, 13 February 2022 20:52

Written by Janet Walker

Mikhail Gorbachev What is at Stake Now, from Polity Press, details in concise simplified viewpoints, across four sections the precarious balance of global power, understanding the new world power shift and the importance of co-existing through a shared sense security.

The compact, complex and comprehensive book, at just 123 pages, reduces our many differences into four sections: "Part 1: Our Shared Security," "Part II: Understanding the Global World," "Part III: Ideas and Politics," and "Part IV: Who's Who in the Global World," and sets out in those four sections to shed light on the geo-political restructuring from 1985 to the present day. 

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With the eyes of the world focused on Vladimir Putin and the expectation of an invasion of Ukraine, Gorbachev, the former and final leader of the Soviet Union, who served during the final days of The Cold War and was the recipient of then President Ronald's Reagan global battle cry to demolish the Berlin Wall writes an appeal for peace. It was he who allowed the citizens of East Berlin who had lived under communism for 28 years, until November 9, 1989, to tear down the wall and as the world watched, the Berlin Wall which had separated families, lives, nations since 1961 was torn down, and a new unified Germany emerged.

Gorbachev speaks of Putin in the section titled "The New Russia" and explains Putin gave ample warning to the world that Russia would pursue an independent foreign policy with his speech at the Munich Security Conference in February 2007.

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He also explains that Russia, is still an evolving nation, as with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Soviet Union also fell and emerged as Russia, a new nation, led by new leaders, some hoping for democracy or some form of it or other like Putin, who had different ideas and beliefs about creating a Russia that would be a dominate global power.

Gorbachev also outlines the rise of political entities in Section IV, "The USA: Monopoly Leadership or Partnership," "Who's Who in the Global World." Included are sections on "Europe: Our Continent, Our Home," "China and India: The New Giants," "The Middle East: Tense Hub of World Politics," "The Rollback of Democracy," "The Responsibility of the Media, Civil Society and International Organizations," "The New Russia."

After reading parts of his viewpoints on "The USA: Monopoly Leadership or Partnership," and understanding that he has had his own style of whistle-stop tours of the United States, much like a presidential candidate, peppered with questions from sincere Americans who honestly wanted a global leader's opinion, even if it was a Russia leader.

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He writes about attempting to sidestep the sincere question, "Something is wrong with our country, what advice would you give?" He answered, "I would certainly not presume to advise you on specific issues, as you would know better than I do but it seems to me that Aerian needs a change, America needs its own perestroika, an American-style perestroika."

He furthered explained U.S. Foreign Policy falls, generally into two roles, one realistic and the other idealistic. The realist defends national interest, and the idealists push for democracy and human rights. He explained that he thought this was a gross simplification and yet, essentially, he described the root causes for the January 6, 2021, insurrection.

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He presents, in Section III, a subsection titled "Can Politics and Morals be Reconciled?" Within that he outlines "The Articles of Faith of the New Thinking," a personal "credo" of new political thinking. A twelve-step program of guiding ideas and principals that he believes remain valid. He is also clear that within this credo there is no room for aggression, "wars, conquests, subjugation and gaining an advantage at the expense of others." He also explains that "ensuring peace is the most important prerequisite for overcoming global problems such as the environmental crisis, international terrorism, migration and all the other challenges on which states, and international organization must focus."

An easy read for scholars, journalists, students and anyone interested in a Russia insider's view of the 21st Century power structure. Mikhail Gorbachev: What is at Stake Now, his appeal for Peace and Freedom, is available everywhere. Read it and be surprised.