It is clear that the main element of any United States policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.
George F. KennanRead
The accords were fig leaves of democratic procedure to hide the nakedness of Stalinist dictatorship.
Interpretation
This quote criticizes the false appearance of democracy in the face of authoritarianism.
George F. Kennan's quote suggests that the agreements made during a certain period were merely superficial efforts to present a democratic front, masking the underlying reality of a Stalinist dictatorship. It highlights the dissonance between the formalities of democratic processes and the actual repressive nature of the regime, emphasizing that the appearances were deceptive and served to obscure the truth of governance.
In practice
In a discussion about political transparency, this quote can illustrate how appearances can be misleading.
It is clear that the main element of any United States policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.
The best thing we can do if we want the Russians to let us be Americans is to let the Russians be Russian.
We should cease to talk about vague and unreal objectives such as human rights, the raising of the living standards, and democratization. The day is not far off when we are going to have to deal in straight power concepts. The less we are then hampered by idealistic slogans, the better.
It is an undeniable privilege of every man to prove himself right in the thesis that the world is his enemy; for if he reiterates it frequently enough and makes it the background of his conduct he is bound eventually to be right.
Actually, the inability of any society to resist immigration, the inability to find other solutions to the problem of employment at the lower, more physical, and menial levels of the economic process, is a serious weakness, and possibly even a fatal one, in any national society. The fully healthy society would find ways to meet those needs out of its own resources.
One sometimes feels a guest of one's time and not a member of its household.
American politics used to be an amateur sport. But somewhere along the way, we handed over to professionals all the things people used to do for free.
Politics is not like an ocean voyage or a military campaign... something which leaves off as soon as reached. It is not a public chore to be gotten over with. It is a way of life.
To resolve this issue will require Iran to come to the table and discuss in a clear and forthright way how to prove to the international community that the intentions of their nuclear program are peaceful. [...] The question is going to be whether in these discussions they show themselves moving clearly in that direction.
If people lose faith in their government, the result is the same whether or not the loss of confidence is justified.
After installing friendly leaders in Iran and Guatemala, the United States lost interest in promoting democracy in either country.
The politician's promises of yesterday are the taxes of today.
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