Note to “Détente and its Discontents”

I have gone through the available literature and written material on the Cold War between the West and Russia for the longest time now, it has pretty much become my specialty now, and what occurred to me in the very end is that two basic and contending theories about the whole thing begin to come to the fore and render themselves self-evident. For one, there is the theory that we overestimate Russia and underestimate the West. Then, there is the theory that we underestimate Russia and we overestimate the West. So what happens? You end up as a judge who arbitrates between the two contending theories to figure out which one of them is a more reliable theory. And in the very end, I find that the latter theory – namely, the theory that we underestimate Russia and we overestimate the West – is the more reliable theory. And of course, I have become isolated and ostracized in international society as a result of ruling in favor of this particular theory as opposed to the opposite and contending one. But as a philosopher and thinker, it’s about figuring out which theory explains the situation we face the best and in the most reliable manner. It ain’t about making friends or pandering or kissing ass and kissing up to impudent asswipes. It’s about figuring out what the hell is actually going on and then proceeding in the proper manner.