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> Why on Earth did Germany not work to diversify? As I understand it, the general thrust of Germany's Russia policy (until several months ago) was a kind of en
by jcranmer 4y ago
> Why on Earth did Germany not work to diversify?
As I understand it, the general thrust of Germany's Russia policy (until several months ago) was a kind of energy-politik [1]: bind Russia into the world economy via the need to maintain stable energy links, and it will be less likely to be a capricious bully to its neighbors. Which doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I guess the relevant figures somehow figured that Russia was acting like a petulant child only because people were treating it as a petulant child?
[1] Sorry, I don't know the German word for "energy" to write the proper German compound word.
- xxpor 4y agoDie Energie, pronounced basically like "en-er-gee", where the g is like gulp, not like jump (or... energy), and ee is long e ([i])
- DoingIsLearning 4y ago> I guess the relevant figures somehow figured that Russia was acting like a petulant child only because people were treating it as a petulant child? You are trying to post-rationalize this with some 4d chess realpolitik. Just follow the money. [0] [0] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-ex-chancellor-schroeder-meets-putin-moscow-politico-2022-03-10/ https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-ex-chancellor-sc...
- IfOnlyYouKnew 4y agoMany of the decisions were made my Merkel who, despite lots of flaws, is with absolute certainty immune from the allure of money. She's never shown any interest in it, had any income other than her government salary, and spend 16 years while in power living in a modest apartment within walking distance from the office.