This was authored at @russia_matters by Doorstep co-host #NickGvosdev. It ties in with the tweets yesterday about the shape of a Biden foreign policy team in that Russia policy could be a unifier among restorationists, reformers and progressives.
Restorationists and reformers see Russia as a revisionist power challenging both the status quo and democracy, but progressives will find fault with the Russian record on human rights, including LGTBQ+ issues, democratic governance and income inequality.
Unity on Russia policy may be the way to forge consensus among different camps within the new administration, and should also find support on the Hill as one of the few bipartisan issues both Republicans and Democrats agree about.
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OK, a Doorstep synthesis: let's put together the discussion between @RadioFreeTom and @TatianaSerafin on youth activism, climate issues and politics from Doorstep ep. 4, @ashjain50 on democratic community, @AshaCastleberry on linking foreign policy to issues that impact ... 1/
ordinary Americans, @Ali_Wyne on great power competition, @thomaswright08 on the factions within a Biden national security apparatus, and @jamisonfoser on the implications of former SecState Kerry as the climate envoy. How does this all play out?
"Climate change" covers a broad mandate. Including within this are things like food security and clean energy. Different aspects of this agenda are going to matter differently to different countries. Diplomacy is about finding consensus. 3/
The question will be whether progress on climate change takes precedence over other foreign policy issues ... and what authority John Kerry will have to negotiate compromises and quid pro quos.
Forthcoming @carnegiecouncil report suggests Americans may be prepared to subordinate concerns about human rights and trade with China to getting a workable deal. Ambassador Fu's op-ed in @nytimes suggests there may be a similar receptivity on Beijing's part.
One thing we've always found is that when @RadioFreeTom says something, people can get angry--but his comments on the need for people to vote and to vote and be involved at all levels if they are dissatisfied with the status quo.