Panel Examines Crisis in Russia

Five University faculty members offered ideas on the recent economic and political crisis in Russia during a panel discussion last night at the Kennedy School of Government's Arco Forum.

Panelists shared their thoughts on causes of the Russia crisis and suggested possible solutions. During the latter half of the presentation, panel members fielded questions from the audience.

The debate produced several viable options for progress toward stability. Bard Professor of History, emeritus, Richard Pipes proposed "teaching instead of preaching." Pipes contended that foreign aid and advice to Russia simply postpones a permanent solution and forces them to conform to Western ideals.

"We need to let them work it out for themselves," he said.

Graham T. Allison, Jr. '62, director of the Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, called for Americans to "refocus on what matter to us most: weapon containment." Allison advised that the United States government purchase nuclear warheads from Russia.

The move, he said, would give Russia much-needed monetary aid, and take the weapons out of Russia's unpredictable arms. "It would be the best bargain we ever had for the defense program," Allison said.

Susan Eisenhower, Institute of Politics fellow and chair of the Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said Russia-experts need to find ways to help the embattled nation capitalize on its rich supply of resources like oil and natural gas.

"We've got to find ways for them to trade things that they're capable of trading," Eisenhower said.

Several panelists mentioned the grave threat of the coming winter. Allison said he thought European nations with a food surplus would send aid rations to Russia.

Eisenhower and Timothy J. Colton, professor of government and director of the Davis Center for Russian Studies, also lauded the idea of aid with a specific target rather than non-earmarked funds. Colton mentioned providing funds for schoolbooks or sending manpower in the areas of medicine and health care.

During the question-and-answer session at the end of the forum, one audience member asked if panelists thought disillusionment among the Russian people will handicap them now that they are finally living in a democracy.

Pipes said that there may be a handicap, but said change will come with time.

"They've been taught to just accept life and develop patience and cunning," he said, recalling a group of Russians he once saw on a broken subway car and the remarkable lack of anger they showed. He concluded that once Russians realize power is in their hands, they will learn gradually to take action and their complacent mindset will end.

Pipes pointed to an anti-Yeltsin protest planned for Oct. 7 as an example of the people's gravitation toward action.

Eisenhower entreated Americans to reject apathy, saying, "My biggest disappointment is that we haven't expressed more sympathy and empathy here in the West toward this impossible situation."

The crowd of just under 100 people appeared to contain few undergraduates. Indeed, none of the questions asked came from undergraduates; most came from graduate students, although community members and one Boston University student ventured to the micro-phone.

Marvin L. Kalb, director of the Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy, served as moderator of the discussion.