Negative block- Russia’s cold-war mentality (R.K.

While the U.S. keeps trying to push relations with Russia forward Russia is still
stuck in the cold war.

Russia still has a cold war mentality

The Christian Science Monitor, Russia’s cold war mentality, August 11, 2008,
Online; Internet, http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-
view/2008/0811/p08s01-comv.html, Accessed December 21, 2010.

When he was Russia's president, Vladimir Putin accused the West of reigniting
the cold war, but it is actually Russia that's stuck in the cold-war mentality.
Bullying through energy blackmail and now tanks and bombers, it reaches for its
imperialist past and believes it requires a buffer to protect itself from threatening
democracies. It would love to get back, or more tightly control, parts of Ukraine
and Moldova, the long-disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, and parts of central
Asia.

As this evidence states Russia still has a cold war mentality. Russia relies
on brute force, not diplomacy, to get what it wants. In fact,

Russia is relying on its hard power and military force

Sergei Karaganov, (Dean of the School of World Economics and Foreign Affairs
at Moscow State University - Higher School of Economics.), “Will Russia save
the west?” Project Syndicate, 2009, Online; Internet,
http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/karaganov13/English,
Accessed November 19, 2010

Russians, on the other hand, emphasize their “hard power,” including military
force, because they know that they live in a dangerous world and have no one to
hide behind. And, because of the country’s comparative lack of “soft power” –
social, cultural, and economic attractiveness – it stands ready to use the
competitive advantages (i.e., its resource wealth) available to it. Internal political
developments in Russia are also pushing the country in a different direction from
the West. Quite simply, Russia is moving away from democracy.

As the evidence states Russia relies on its hard power and military force.
Russia also relies heavily on nuclear deterrence. (R.K.)

America.gov “U.S.- Russia balancing act” February 22, 2010, Online: Internet,
http://www.america.gov/st/peacesec-english/2010/February/20100222181413
ebyessedo0.8069836.html, Accessed October 5, 2010.

While Russian leaders do not challenge President Obama’s long-term vision of a world
free of nuclear weapons, and Russia continues to negotiate new agreements to reduce
nuclear weapons stockpiles, nuclear deterrence is even more entrenched in the thinking of
the Russian security community today than during the Cold War.

As the evidence states Russia relies heavily on nuclear deterrence. Russia

does not trust anyone and is convinced that it must hold on to it’s nuclear
weapons to prevent attacks from other countries, including the United States.
Also we cannot push relations forward with Russia because Russia isn’t
interested in expanding relations. Russia is concerned with holding onto the
power that it has and expanding it.

Russia is becoming more authoritarian.

John Edwards (chair) Jack Kemp (chair) Stephen Sestanovich (project

director) “Russia’s wrong direction: What the United States can and should do”
Council on Foreign Relations, March, 2006 pg. 4

At a time when the president of the United States has made

democracy a goal of American foreign policy, Russia’s political system
is becoming steadily more authoritarian. Russia is a less open and less
democratic society than it was just a few years ago, and the rollback of
political pluralism and centralization of power there may not have run
their course.

As the evidence states Russia is becoming more Authoritarian. Democracy and

freedom of the people is not one of Russia’s goals. Recently Russia had a prime
opportunity to change its policies and expand cooperation with the U.S. as secretary of
State Hillary Clinton and Russian President Medvedev hit a symbolic reset button on
relations between the U.S. and Russia. Despite this opportunity Russia has still retained
it’s cold-war-esque policies.
“Reset” button doesn’t change Russia’s policies. (R.K.)

Mark Silva (staff writer) “Clinton’s ‘reset’ button: ‘overcharge’, The Swamp (a
branch of the Chicago tribune that provides political commentary), March 6,
2009, Online: Internet, http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/03/
clintons_reset_button_overchar_1.html, accessed October 5, 2010.

Under Secretary of State Bill Burns had already visited Moscow, and President
Obama had earlier sent a letter to Russian President Dmitri Medvedev offering to
forgo missile defense in Europe for Russian help in addressing Iran. This, along
with other gestures signaling the Obama administration's willingness to pursue a
new relationship, was received warmly in Moscow. But a reset button is not a
new soul. Moscow remains determined to project power, limit human rights at
home, play politics with oil and gas and exclude the US from a sphere of
influence in its surrounding countries. The challenge ahead is in maintaining
perspective and signaling Russia clearly both on our disagreements and where
we are willing to work together.

As the evidence states a reset button doesn’t change Russia’s policies.

We cannot expect to form good relations while Russia remains entrenched in a
cold war mind set.