Soviet dissidents revered the moral principles espoused by the U.S. and its Founding Fathers. Figures like Andrei Sakharov and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn exemplified this commitment to liberty, often facing severe repercussions for their opposition to the Communist regime. The legacy of these dissidents and their admiration for the U.S. illuminate a stark contrast with American foreign policy, which can sometimes prioritize pragmatic interests over moral ideals. The dialogue raises questions about the implications of this pragmatism for democracy within the United States and the global order.
The tradition of Soviet dissidents, those brave souls who spoke out against the totalitarian Communist regime, was based on morality. They often sacrificed their freedom, and even their lives, to call out the evils of a government that mentally and physically enslaved its own citizens and waged imperialistic wars abroad.
Their legacies inspired me, as did the great foe of the U.S.S.R. I grew up in: the United States of America. Solzhenitsyn in particular was a great admirer of the U.S., where he toured to huge audiences, speaking about the horrors of the Communist system.
George's view of the world-drawn from the experience of his family fleeing Nazis in Eastern Europe-echoes Henry Kissinger's geopolitical philosophy: realism, not idealism.
Garry and George consider whether realism is realistic, and what the future of American foreign policy means for democracy at home.
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