Military and Defence Policy Archives - KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show · Burt Cohen

A Left-Right Pro-Putin Alliance?

March 14, 2023·59 min·5 clips

Michael Kazin argues why leftists like Chris Hedges are wrong to always blame America for wars.

Host Bert Cohen, a self-described skeptic of U.S. military interventions, explores the emerging political alliance opposing American support for Ukraine with historian Michael Kazin. Kazin, a professor at Georgetown University and editor emeritus of *Dissent* magazine, argues the left should reject this coalition. He specifically references a "Rage Against the War Machine" rally held at the Lincoln Memorial on February 19, 2023, which drew about a thousand attendees. Figures like Chris Hedges, Glenn Greenwald, Tulsi Gabbard, and Ron Paul are cited as voices uniting across the spectrum to blame U.S. foreign policy and NATO expansion for the war. Kazin contends that viewing the conflict solely through the lens of American imperialism is an "alternate reality" that ignores Russia's own expansionist history under tsars, communists, and now Vladimir Putin. He draws a historical parallel to Hitler's concept of *Lebensraum*, or "living space," though clarifies he does not believe Putin aims to conquer all of Europe. A surprising insight is Kazin's observation that some leftist arguments now mirror talking points from Tucker Carlson and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who claim the U.S. has no stake in the conflict. He notes the irony of seeing Russian flags at an anti-war rally ostensibly about having "no good guys." Kazin acknowledges that NATO's post-Cold War expansion was likely a strategic misstep that provoked Russian fears, but argues this does not justify the invasion of a sovereign state. He points out that countries like Estonia and Latvia sought NATO membership due to fears of Russian aggression, not American coercion. The discussion highlights the complexity of Ukrainian identity, noting that many native Russian speakers are fighting for Ukraine's independence. Kazin references historian Timothy Snyder's book *Bloodlands* on the brutal history of Eastern Europe, including the Holodomor famine in Ukraine. He stresses that wars force a choice, and in this case, supporting Ukrainian self-determination aligns with leftist principles, unlike the mistaken support some American communists gave to the Soviet crushing of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The tone is a thoughtful, historical, and conversational dialogue between two left-leaning individuals examining their own political camp's reactions. Listeners interested in the history of anti-war movements, U.S. foreign policy debates, and intra-left political dynamics will find this episode compelling. Those seeking tactical military analysis or a debate with a staunch conservative perspective might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A serious left-leaning exchange about Ukraine, anti-war skepticism, and familiar arguments that still have some bite.

Bert Cohen frames the episode through a left anti-war skepticism about major U.S. military support for Ukraine, then keeps pressing on Russia, NATO, American weapons contractors, and the use of "deep state" language.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

If you want to test your anti-war instincts against the Ukraine debate, start here.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Military and Defence Policy Archives - KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show