Sydney, Monday 29 July 2024: What is Russian exceptionalism? How can we best understand the mindset of Russians and Russian President Vladamir Putin to ensure the most effective response to the war on Ukraine? Is there a path forward to ‘getting Russia right’?
For our fourth Ramsay Lecture for 2024, the Centre is delighted to present an exploration of this topic – a recorded conversation between former Centre CEO Professor Simon Haines, and one of Australia’s foremost Russia experts, the esteemed academic, diplomat and Russian interpreter Mr Kyle Wilson.
In their discussion the pair draw upon Mr Wilson’s direct dealings with President Putin as well as his research into Russian history and society to explore the mindset that led Russia to invade Ukraine. Mr Wilson posits that President Putin is bent on reaffirming age-old traditions of autocracy at home and empire abroad. Far from being threatened by NATO expansion in its so-called near abroad, Putin is intent on integrating Ukraine into greater Russia.
Leading into this conclusion Mr Wilson and Professor Haines explore:
*Mr Wilson’s thesis that contemporary political culture in Russia is a mirror of what Genghis Khan created in the Mongol Empire, a militarised empire where all power resides with an autocrat who is above the law and where people exist to serve the state.
*Russian exceptionalism and how Russians are taught to believe they are unique, ethnically and culturally superior, and owed gratitude for saving humanity on three occasions from Khan, Napolean and Hitler.
*Why Russia believes the West is mounting a war against it and wants to influence the foreign policy of its small neighbours to the West because of the times it has been invaded from the West.
*Why despite past invasions it is not NATO expansion and fear of invasion that are driving the war on Ukraine but rather Putin’s military strongman mindset and the desire to restore to Russia parcels of lands that it believes it still has rights to.
Mr Wilson graduated in European languages (Russian, Polish, German, with First Class Honours in Russian) from the Australian National University in 1976 and then studied at the Moscow State and Leningrad State Universities (1977-79). He taught Russian and Russian history at the University of Queensland before joining the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) in 1981. DFAT posted him to Warsaw (1982-84) and Moscow (1988-92). In Russia he was also accredited to Mongolia and was closely involved in establishing and consolidating Australia’s diplomatic relations with newly independent Kazakhstan. He also pursued a particular interest in Siberia and Pacific Russia, regions which he continues to visit.
In 1994-95 Mr Wilson studied Mandarin at Beijing’s Institute of Economic Management, before working in the Australian Embassy in Beijing from 1996 to 2000 as the Counsellor Economic. From 2000 to 2003 he headed a section in DFAT responsible for managing relations with China and Mongolia. From 2004 to 2014 he was seconded by DFAT to the Office of National Assessments as the Senior Analyst for Russia and Central Asia. He has served as Russian interpreter for Australian prime ministers, governors general and ministers, most recently for former PMs Rudd and Abbott. On three occasions he has interpreted for Putin.
Kyle was awarded the Solidarity Medal from the Government of Poland for his work in support of the Solidarity movement; and an Australia Day Medal for his analysis from Moscow in 1989-92. Since retiring from the Australian Public Service, he was commissioned by the Office of National Assessments to carry out an Oral History of the Office; and been a Visiting Fellow at the ANU’s Centre for European Studies.
*This recorded lecture will be available via www.ramsaycentre.org on 1 August 2024.Media contact:Sarah Switzer0407 816 098 / sarah.switzer@ramsaycentre.org