ChinaTalk

Russia's Pivot to Asia From Czars to Putin

Sep 14, 2021

Chris Miller, a history professor and Eurasia expert, joins independent researcher Kamil Galeev to explore Russia's evolving ambitions in East Asia. They dive into how the fur trade catalyzed Russian interests in Alaska and Hawaii. The conversation juxtaposes Russian expansion against China's historical stability, revealing key conflicts and dynamics. They also touch on the intrigues of Nikolai Rezanov's romantic endeavors in pursuit of trade. Unique anecdotes, like Mao's quirky shoe preferences, pepper this engaging discussion on imperial legacies and geopolitical implications.

01:07:17

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Episode guests

Kamil Galeev

Chris Miller

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Exploring Russian Expansion into the Pacific: The Fur Trade and Maritime Routes

4min

Dreams of Empire: Nikolai Rezanov's Ambitions and Challenges

2min

Imperial Ambitions: Russia and China Through Time

23min

Soviet Dynamics and Chinese Revolutionary Movements

16min

The USSR-India-China Triangle: Historical Dynamics and Gorbachev's Diplomacy

12min

Russia and China's Complex Ties to Afghanistan

4min

Valor and Camaraderie in the Face of Adversity

3min

How did Russian imperial ambitions and expansionism eastward change over time?

Joining me on this episode is Chris Miller, author of We Shall Be Masters: Russian Pivots to East Asia from Peter the Great to Putin. Chris is a history professor at the Fletcher School and Eurasia Director at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

Cohosting is independent researcher, journalist and fellow at the Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute Kamil Galeev. Reach out to him on twitter if you have a place for him to live in DC!

We also look at:

How the fur trade spurred Russian interest in Alaska, California and Hawaii
Russia, the Kuomintang and the Communist Party
Why Xinjiang didn’t end up like Mongolia
Chairman Mao’s new shoes

Outtro music: Kamil's suggestion of what he tells me was a Soviet anti-Japanese war song (it slaps)

Три танкиста (three tank men) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp22_BHJDJk

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