Reflections on Russia as a “great space”

A true empire can only be created in a closed space, because autarky, that is, the closure of one's economic space from external markets, is the only possible version of true economic sovereignty, without which no sovereign empire can take place. Aleksandr Dugin argues this claim by referring to the leading economists of the last two centuries - List and Keynes - and the experience of Western countries (the United States, Britain and Germany) that have created their own empires. In other words, Russia needs its own “big space” on which to create our empire, and since empire is not only natural, but also the only form of our existence, only in the presence of a “big space” can we preserve our civilization and secure the future of our people. Do we have this space, can we create it, and are there conditions for its existence?

Historically, Russia-for example, within the borders of the mid-19th century-already had such a space. Under Nicholas I we were spread over three continents, from Warsaw to California, and it was not a colonial empire, but a space of natural expansion of Russian civilization. But it was so big that we could not keep up with its development. The globalization that began in the second half of the 19th century and the increasing competition from the Western (especially Anglo-Saxon) powers meant that first we sold California and Alaska, and then twice in the last century we plunged into turmoil, and when we came out of it we recovered only a part of our “big space”. The exception was the period 1945-1989, when we first established control over Eastern Europe (and in the 1950s we were also allied with China), and then built a whole system of “socialist-oriented” countries in Asia and Africa, but we lost everything during perestroika. Now Russia has regained its internal strength, but neither the current borders nor the less than 150 million inhabitants of our country allow us to talk about “big space”. Not only because it has been much larger in Russian history, but also because building a new world order requires large forces.

Of course, Russia cannot build it alone, but we need other forces to fully participate in its construction. What kind of forces? Usually economists talk about the need for a market of at least 300 million people, although some raise the figure to 500 million. But it is clear that it is not just about population. Nigeria already has 220 million people and by mid-century it will be almost double that, but that does not mean it will become an empire with a global role, or at least take its place among those who really determine the rules of the game. The number of inhabitants, that is, the size of the market, is only one of the indicators, along with the creative spirit of the people, territory, natural resources and so on. Russia has a huge territory and all the necessary natural resources, but that is why the number of inhabitants is of utmost importance to us. Without a sufficient population, we will not be able to develop at least and at most to keep even the current lands -- to keep them not so much in military terms, but in civilian terms: there will be a gradual replacement of the Russian people on their historical territory.

That is, in any case, it is not enough to get out of the demographic hole, we need a real demographic turnaround: large families with at least three children must become the norm. But we can't do it quickly: ideally, it's a matter of two or three decades. And we need to build and rebuild the empire now: the world has entered the phase of global reformat, and the laggard will lose. If we had 300 million people and prospects for growth to 500 million, we could consider even today's Russia a “great space” and use autarky as a recipe for strengthening the empire. But our situation is different and we need to acquire a “big space” in the short term. Where to find it?

The answer is on the surface: it is the former post-Soviet space. Indeed, Vladimir Putin has always proceeded from this point and all his efforts to build the Eurasian Economic Community were aimed at recreating the historic “big space”. But the real processes of aggregation began in the second half of the 2000s, by which time the West had already considered post-Soviet space as its own and was not ready to leave it in Russia's orbit. First and foremost was Ukraine, whose tug-of-war led to the current conflict.

EurAsec has a population of 190 million today and, with the approach of Uzbekistan, will grow to 220 million. After Russia brings Ukraine (what remains of it) back into its orbit, the Eurasian Union will already have a quarter of a billion people, enough to form the basis of a “big space”.

“Great space” requires not only civil, historical, economic or gravitational unity, but also mature historical conditions. This is precisely the time: the Anglo-Saxon model of globalization has failed and the world is beginning to disperse into its own apartments. But not national, but regional and civilizational. Within a couple of decades, a new model of balance of power in the world will emerge, in which up to ten major power-civilizations and regional blocs will determine everything.

China, the EU, India, the U.S., ASEAN (an organization of Southeast Asian countries), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean Countries, the African Union, the League of Arab States-and Russia with the Eurasian Union in the same row. Sure, we will be the smallest in terms of population (the U.S. will join us from the end), but as leaders of the “big space” we will have more opportunities than just a state-civilization. And even these states will remain and have influence on the world balance of power: Turkey, Iran, Japan.... At the same time, Russia's “big space” will have the potential both for growth (e.g., at the expense of Eastern Europe-its presence in the European Union is far from everlasting) and for close alliances with some strong players. Iran and even Turkey could become very close partners of the Eurasian Union, which will strengthen Russia's position in the formation of a new world order.

What about the closing of the “great space”, protectionism and other measures to form a single market and a common development economy? All this is necessary and inevitable, but only after this “big space” is physically formed. That is, on the ground, including through military victories. However, the current global financial and trading system (Anglo-Saxon by birth and management) has already entered the phase of fragmentation and collapse - the major non-Western world players (primarily China and the Islamic world) have already set their sights on its elimination through displacement and replacement by new mechanisms. Of course, the promotion of new mechanisms and instruments in trade and finance will be slower than we would like, but it will come nonetheless.

Russia must simultaneously build its own (including in cooperation with potential participants in the expanded “big space” such as Iran) and participate in non-Western (Chinese and Islamic) global projects, but above all it must regain physical control over the western part of the Russian world. Only after completing this process can we begin a practical discussion of options and forms of autarky - otherwise, by closing the door, we will be leaving behind a part of a non-major, but indigenous space.

Source: https://ria.ru/

Translation by Costantino Ceoldo