"Do buffer zones deter wars?" Topic

"The concept of the buffer zone is making a big comeback in international politics. These zones act as a Switzerland-like neutral territory or demilitarized no man's land, a kind of cordon sanitaire that avoids neighbors staring at each other eyeball to eyeball — the suburban equivalent of building a higher picket fence.

Consider the crisis in Ukraine. Russia fears that Kiev might seek NATO membership, which would effectively put it in the West's sphere of influence and give Russia less leverage over a strategic chunk of land that has historically buffered it from the rest of Europe. One of its justifications for recently seizing the Crimea and much of Ukraine's eastern half is Vladimir Putin's desire for more cushion separating Russia from NATO.

As Notre Dame's Tanisha Fazal has argued, buffer states such as Ukraine are the country's most at risk of suffering "state death."…"
Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

Saw the article in USA Today.

The historic problem with buffer zones is that they do not remain buffers for long. The other problem is that life at the sufferance of your neighbors is not much of a life.

Example, In the 16th through mid 19th centuries, Germany and Italy were the small change box of dynastic and political rearrangements. It was not a great life in that small change box for the people who made up the small change.

As for Putin seeking for more cushion separating Russia from Nato, I heartily doubt it. Any danger to Russia will not come by way of Poland and the Ukraine, but by way of the pole, or out of the Oceans, where those great grey leviathans of the deep wait to send forth their destruction.

The historic problem with buffer zones is that they do not remain buffers for long.

Exactly. It's the classic problem and cause of Empire. You want a buffer zone between your country and the 'bad guys'. So you set one up. Because you need this buffer zone to like your country or it's not a buffer zone, you link it into your economy. After a generation or three, what was a buffer zone is now a critical part of your economy. So now you need a new buffer zone to protect your old buffer zone, which might as well be part of your nation.

And the pattern endlessly repeats. Every single empire in recorded history has exactly the same pattern. Egyptians, the various old Middle Eastern nations, China, Russia, the UK/Commonwealth, the US (particularly in the westward expansion from 1800-1900), you name the nation.

The other problem is that life at the sufferance of your neighbors is not much of a life.

See also "Northwest Frontier" and "The Great Game."

Dear Lion in the Stars. Sorry you are dawghoused and not able to respond but you'll be out soon. Send me your snail mail at sigurd@eclipse.net and I'll send you a cake with some interesting fillings to help. (or is that filings)

To the post

Exactly. One other point. Now that you've tied this buffer zone to your economy and your realm politically, now they become a restive element within your system and you have to coddle and cater to them and that winds up where the tail is wagging the dog. The best example, The Austro-Hungarian Empire. They acquired all these "buffer zones" against the Turks and eventually annexed them, and didn't THAT work out well. So not only is the buffer an absolute drain on resources it wants more and more which makes your own people resentful.

Further- Buffer zones work great when the buffer hasn't got a pot to piz in, but once they do everyone wants the pot and you have to take them over to prevent the other guy from getting it. Then the inhabitants get to piz on you.

The buffer zone called Belgium did such fine work in 1914 and 1939.

"Do buffer zones deter wars?"

Only until someone starts shooting …

Otto, you can contact Lion directly because both are TMP members.
See in your page at the end of it.

Amicalement
Armand