It's Still Russia v The Hegemon

Some Clarification For New Readers

The Busker is reaching more than 3,000 people every week and many hundreds of new followers and subscribers have joined recently. In view of this, I think I should attempt to clarify the purpose of the Update for those who haven’t been following me for very long. For many, aspects of this account will be familiar.

Most of you will know that the Update is meant to report on the Ukraine War viewed as part of a wider conflict between the Uni-Polar World Order led by the Hegemon (i.e. the US) and the emerging multi-Polar World Order (e.g. BRICS countries) represented by Russia. This was easier to appreciate when Biden was President. His Administration was controlled by a group of unelected political actors who exert control whoever is sitting in the White House. Some refer to these people as the Deep State.¹

But the election of Donald Trump has disrupted this simplicity. The US under Trump is still the Hegemon but, arguably, is not part of the Deep State: in fact, Trump appears to be taking steps to undermine the Deep State. However, I know that some will disagree about the extent to which he is doing this. Some believe that he is simply dismantling the Democrat’s version of the Deep State to replace it with his own. I simply don’t know, but if you want a sceptical view of Donald Trump’s Administration, I would recommend Brian Berletic’s work at the New Atlas. Trump is clearly a member of the Capitalist Class and will serve the interests of his class. But he is also doing some things that will benefit everyone - such as removing the excesses of Wokism.

Trump is in an awkward position with regard to Ukraine because he has to juggle his position as Russian adversary - which he has inherited from Biden - with that of a peacemaking negotiator on behalf of a proxy belligerent - i.e. Ukraine. But note that negotiations include Ukraine only on the margins. There is no doubt that this is and has been a war led by the US (with help from NATO and the European globalists) against Russia - which Trump and his team appreciate. Whereas Biden and the globalist Europeans wanted (still want) the war, Trump does not. He probably appreciates that it has wasted money and cannot be won. But this is a tactical move: the US is still opposed to anyone who challenges its hegemony. This is how I see the situation and this will be reflected in my approach to reporting.

Whoever takes the reigns in Washington, we can’t lose sight of the fact that they all represent the Hegemon. In four years time, the situation could change. When Trump says he wants to make America Great Again this would include a desire to save the Empire - in the face of opposition from emerging rivals such as China. Unfortunately, the Donald is saddled with the old exceptionalist assumptions of the Hegemon and this is reflected in his bullying approach to diplomacy. When the Hegemon is weak, its rhetoric must be strong. I don’t think Trump appreciates how weak America is in relation to Russia, China and Iran.

But those American people who support Trump may see ‘greatness’ in different terms: in terms of individual prosperity and the dignity of having a home, decent health care, education, employment etc. They also want a culture based in their traditions including a Christian moral system and the constitutional right to free speech: they do not want involvement in foreign wars. In four years’ time the people will judge Trump on how successful he has been at delivering these things. If he is not judged to be successful the Democrats could take over.

I felt I had to explain this to clarify my own perspective on this conflict: especially since things have become more complicated. Fundamentally, this is still a conflict between Russia, as a representative and champion of the emerging Multi-Polar World Order, and the US Hegemon. It will be resolved on Russia’s terms in Ukraine but this opposition between the old and new worlds will endure until the US and the rest of the West accept that they must become part of the Multi-Polar World Order.

I see my role as an old fashioned reporter. I am not an expert but I engage critically with the experts I cite in the Update. I do not provide very much by way of speculation because I lack the requisite expertise - as well as the inclination. But I will provide some critique and analysis. The aim of the Update has always been to provide busy people with a weekly summary of world events that are related to the Ukraine war. At the moment, this is the focal point of the conflict between the Uni-Polar World Order led by the US and the emerging Multi-Polar World Order. When the Ukraine conflict ends, the focus of the Update will also change.

Many of my subscribers have made reference to the fact that I am covering world events. I am doing so because these events interconnect with the Ukraine conflict in one way or another. I was thinking of changing the title of the Update so as to reflect this. I thought that ‘Ukraine and World Affairs: Weekly Update’ would be OK. What do you think?

Best wishes - Rob

1. I suggest you google it.