Judge Dennis Davis
What is Russian Nationality?
Summary
The focus of this discussion is on the Ukrainian crisis and the role of Russian nationalism. Judge Dennis Davis outlines two key propositions, highlighting Putin’s seemingly genocidal goal to destroy Ukraine and the imperialistic nature of the war, opposing Ukraine’s self-determination. Reference is made to Putin’s 2021 speech, where he reconfigures Russian history and expresses tension between denying Ukraine’s nationhood and desiring its elimination. The discussion also examines Russia’s historical struggle for stable governance and expresses doubt about Putin’s ability to establish a lasting regime, drawing parallels with past collapses and recoveries in Russian leadership.
Judge Dennis Davis
Dennis Davis is a judge of the High Court of South Africa and judge president of the Competition Appeals Court of South Africa. He has held professorial appointments at the University of Cape Town and University of the Witwatersrand, as well as numerous visiting appointments at Cambridge, Harvard, New York University, and others. He has authored eleven books, including Lawfare: Judging Politics in South Africa.
Obviously there are parallels, because China sees Taiwan as part of itself. There is a significant difference between the Russians and the Chinese because as tempting as it must be to invade Taiwan, China sees their grand future in globalisation, and the globalisation of the economy, which is part of their growth and the lift out of poverty. I think for them to start a war with Taiwan at this stage, the costs are greater than the benefits.
Yes, within Russia there most certainly is. And the irony, of course, is that Ukrainians have it too. Snyder points out the biggest irony of all is that Ukraine was probably the major area of importance for Hitler in the war because of the oil and the wheat. It’s a great irony that now Putin is using this Nazification argument against the very country who suffered as much, if not more, than anywhere else.
I don’t know. Malcolm Rifkind was asked that particular question and there are various possibilities. There is the possibility that finally there is some sort of settlement. There’s a possibility that the military finally remove Putin quietly. What I do think is that as the Afghanistan War was absolutely disastrous for the Soviet regime towards the end, I’m hopeful that that might be the case here.