A big civilizational idea
The Day’s experts comment on Zbigniew Brzezinski’s idea of transferring Council of Europe HQ to Kyiv, the ancient capital city of Kyivan Rus’.
If Ukraine doesn’t move in the direction of Europe – or is going through the mentions of moving in this direction – then Europe should make its move. This thesis is offered by Zbigniew Brzezinski, the former national security advisor under President Carter, in his latest book Strategic Vision: America and the Crisis of Global Power. He offers a long-term political forecast, past the year 2025, and proposes to transfer the CE headquarters to Kyiv, this ancient capital city of Kyivan Rus’. He believes that any intentions on the part of Russia in the direction of the West are likely to be accompanied – if not preceded – by similar intentions on the part of Ukraine. Therefore, such a collective consultative body as the Council of Europe should be located, even if temporarily, in Kyiv, the capital city of Kyivan Rus’ that maintained effective contacts with the West a thousand years back. This location in the center of Eastern Europe, north of Turkey, would symbolize the renewal of the West’s viability and expansion of its territory.
Most importantly, official Kyiv must comprehend this idea. This would practically mark the Plan of the Century, what with Euro-2012, highways, stadiums, hotels, and infrastructures. There are economic and cultural aspects. Visitors should be familiarized with Ukrainian history.
Russia is getting prepared to mark the 1,150th anniversary of its imperial rule while official Kyiv is scared to mention the 1,160th anniversary of Kyivan Rus’. This spells a great deal of responsibility. Brzezinski assumes it because he believes Ukraine has a great deal of potential. He refers to the eventful history of Kyivan Rus’ and its role in Europe during the Middle Ages.
Ukraine can still play a major role in European politics, matching that of Kyivan Rus’. Europe is losing energy while Ukraine has it. This energy has to be revealed – precisely what Brzezinski has in mind when saying that Ukraine could help revive the West’s viability, that this energy could help Russia and Turkey, both of which countries he visualizes as room enough for reviving the West. Those “upstairs” in Russia wince when Brzezinski’s name comes up. Many of them accuse him of the Soviet Union’s collapse, as well as Russia’s current anti-West stance. The fact remains that his political predictions, including Kamchatka, form a material force.
Even if official Kyiv rejects Brzezinski’s idea, it may be accepted by Ukrainian society, and this would be a more important phenomenon. This, of course, would require arrangements on a spiritual, cultural, even sanitary level. This would require the proper understanding of Russia’s notion of statehood that leaves out Ukraine and its eventful history, including Kyivan Rus’. This would require belief in Ukraine’s special energy that has been there, over hundreds of years.
