Democracy Threatened

Most people alive today have only know peace and prosperity, but it hasn't always been this way. After WW2 ended in 1945 Europe was roughly divided into two allegiances, with western Europe and the the USA holding onto democratic values, and Eastern Europe being dominated by the rule of Russia's communist ideals. Fearful of Russia's military might and their ambitions to expand their influence, an organisation called NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) was formed, its purpose was that the collective resources of the member nations would be used to support any member that was attacked. Nations that were under Russian control were part of the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). For decades there existed an ideological split, known as the Cold  War, in which both sides sought to gain ideological control of independent nations. With the encouragement of the US, the EU was formed in the late 1950s, with the objective of countries forming closer economic and political ties, and thereby reduce the likelihood for another European war,

The USSR was a heavily militarised economy, and over the decades its standard of living failed to match the prosperity that was being achieved by the liberty based, democratic capitalist system of the Western nations. In the early 1990s the USSR economy failed, and the sovereign nations of Eastern  Europe could break from Russia, introduce democratic values and start integrating their economies with the West. A young Vladimir Putin was appalled to witness the downfall of the mighty Russian communist order. The Russian leaders of the time had to admit defeat, and they declared a new policy of Glasnost (open-ness) and over the next 25 years Western Businesses began investing and trading in the Russian economy.  In 1999 Putin became president, and there was still one thing on his mind. He had seen that western countries had become complacent, they had enjoyed the 'peace dividend', reduced the capability of their military forces, and become heavily reliant on cheap Russian energy supplies to fund their wealth.

When the USSR had split apart, a special agreement had been made with Ukraine, for it to give up the Nuclear Weapons it had inherited from the days of the USSR. Russia agreed to honour Ukraine sovereignty, and the US and UK promised to defend it from Russian aggression. In 2014 Putin prepared an army and invaded the Crimean region of Ukraine, of strategic military importance. The campaign was completed in 3 days, in response the West issued a few half hearted sanctions that had virtually no effect. Putin's reading of the West was correct, we were weak, reluctant to commit militarily, and easily divided in opinion.

Unbelievably for the West, this wasn't a moment of realisation as to Putin's long term thinking. Investments in Russia continued, dependency on energy deepened, the military was left incapable in capacity to match Russia's might. In February of 2022 Russia denied that the build up of hundreds of thousands of its troops along the Ukrainian border was a prelude to an invasion. On the 24th Putin launched his Special Military Operation, in which he intended to instate a supplicant government, and gain control of more Ukrainian territory. Like Crimea, the operation was expected to last no longer than 3 days. Unbelievably, even though Ukraine's military is a fraction of the size and resource of the Russian army, it had prepared well and managed to defend itself and Russia failed to achieve its objectives. 

This time the west did react with unity and conviction. Sanctions whose purpose was to strangle the Russian economy were imposed, the US provided the majority of military support, and other countries provided financial support and other resources. Against the odds, Ukraine is still holding back the Russian army, however it still needs massive support. Military supplies from the US are still arriving in April 2025, but these were the supplies that were pledged by the former US president Joe Biden, which he committed to in the last weeks of his term.  Trumps attitude is completely the opposite to any other US president in US history. He will not even allow Ukraine to buy US made air defence systems that would allow it to protect civilian infrastructure that is the subject of strategic Russian bombing. He has accused US western allies of 'ripping the US off', and he has no interest in the US continuing to support its historical allies.

No one knows what will happen in Ukraine. Trump is a volatile character who has no interest in law or principle. For some reason, even though he has benefitted from living in a democracy himself, he seems to adulate and respect dictators like Putin and Kim Jong Un of North Korea, and it would appear that he wants to emulate their dictatorial powers. The Russian economy shows signs of struggling, inflation is high, interest rates are above 20%, it is relying on Iran and North Korea for its military supplies. On the battlefield nearly one million troops have been killed, wounded or missing, it has lost more than ten thousand tanks, and troops are relying on donkeys and camels to supply arms to the front line. The population is shrinking, the birth rate is down, and under age girls are being offered financial incentives to to get pregnant. In Ukraine virtually all the non nuclear power stations have been destroyed. Russia's strategy is to target the civilian population, with hospitals, schools, shopping centres and restaurants candidate targets. 

Trumps main interest currently is to subvert the US constitution which he sees as politically biased against himself personally, and pursue his vision of MAGA, which involves rebuilding the US manufacturing base. For many the US constitution until this Trump presidency has been seen as a beacon of democracy in the world, and his current course of action could be profoundly destructive to the US and the world economy. People Power Democracy is promoting action by one and all to protect democracy the world over.

A brief history of the context to the current situation

Global Unertainty

The balance of political, economic and military power is in a state of huge tension at this time.

• China, giving support to Russia, has its own imperialist aims, and could be encouraged to act if the West is seen to have failed to support Ukraine successfully. The China economy is facing a mounting debt crisis, and due to the uneasy relationship with the communist ruling party and commerce, western businesses are relocating their manufacturing base to other Asian economies, putting further pressure on the economy, and creating an unemployment crisis too.

• Trump looks likely to end US support for Ukraine, and so it will fall to Europe. Will Europe have the political commitment and depth of resources to outlast Russia?

• Trump is creating huge division, unrest and opposition within the US, and rapidly losing the trust of US allies. His tariff policies are creating turmoil in the financial markets, and he risks increasing the cost for the US to pay its huge debt, and face bankruptcy. This factor alone may constrain his actions, though it seems too late for him to reverse his policies without losing face, so will he be deposed, or do we face political and economic turmoil?

It seems inevitable that there will be a new world order

On November 6 2024 Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the USA after a campaign targeted to his MAGA (Make America Great Again) followers. His victory was heavily influenced and financially supported by Elon Musk. Shortly after his inauguration as president and Elon Musk was appointed to run DOGE (the Department Of Government Efficiency) it became apparent that it was Elon Musk who was running the president, and that their mission is a coup against the US constitution, a 200 year old system of democratic government that has helped the US to become the strongest global power.

Trump attacks US democracy

Since becoming president on January 20th 2025, Donald Trump has set an agenda that seeks to give himself absolute authority and undermine the US constitution. US citizens including those that voted for him are rising up in protest at his policies, they need our support. Elon Musk's behaviour has antagonised people the world over, and Tesla's car sales and stock value have plummeted.

Who is running the US?

Trump humbles himself and lets the unelected Musk do the talking

Musk's son X lets Trump know 'you're not the real president'

One of the first ways a new president is able to exercise political power is through unilateral executive orders.

In his first days of office Trump signed an executive order to give himself absolute authority by exploiting an outdated and obscure Constitutional theory.

The new order seeks to 'rein in independent agencies' by seizing various departments that normally act in accordance with Congress, bringing them under control of the executive branch in the Whitehouse

The order reiterates that 'all executive power is vested in the President', and he and attorney general will interpret the law, leaving Trump free from Congressional and judicial oversight.

Trump justified his use of the Order by declaring that he was acting to fight against the import of the drug Fentanyl, and that he was going to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico to this end. However after a few weeks one rarely hears about his concern for Fentanyl.

Trump and Musks First Actions and Policies

Donald Trump has made announcements and declared his intentions

• destroy the US constitution

• to capitulate to Putin's demands and force Ukraine to make concessions Russia and or the US

• make CANADA US state 51

• annex Greenland

• invade Panama, control the canal

• start a trade war with historic allies

• dump the US role in NATO

• remove the Palestinians and make Gaza a seaside golfing resort

• Offer pardons to to those that committed criminal acts on January 6 at Capitol Hill

• Deport without due legal process migrants and undesirables to the Cecot Prison in El Salvador

Elon Musk has been using his powers in DOGE to gain access confidential information, he is facing several lawsuits, one of which claims. "Musk is far more than an adviser to the White House," the lawsuit says. "He executes the President's agenda by exercising virtually unchecked power across the entire Executive branch, making decisions about expenditures, contracts, government property, regulations, and the very existence of federal agencies."

Trump and the MAGA dream

Trump has sold the American Dream back to his MAGA supporters, they believe that it is possible to return to a golden era of the 1950's and 60's when affluence was going to improve generation by generation. However Trump has failed to realise that that by acting like a dictator he has destroyed the trust with other nations that enabled all of us to enjoy peace and prosperity.

Does Trump have valid observations?

In two key areas Trump has made some valid observations;

• Europe could have done more to invest in its military capability.

• The US economy has a trade deficit.

These conditions are not the result of shrewd calculations to exploit the US, however they can't be adjusted overnight either. 

Trump's Values

Trump has shown that he holds no stall with the science of diplomacy, his over-riding requirement is to show him unquestioning personal loyalty.

• He acts with commitment, but has no time for the institutions of democracy, whether US or international, that have made the western world what is today, mostly prosperous and peaceful.

• He doesn't understand that globally organised manufacturing industry cannot respond to his political aspirations overnight, they have evolved over decades.

• He may believe that his tactics for international negotiation may look good to his MAGA base in the US, but he seems unaware that he is dissolving the trust respect and confidence of his historical allies, and that he risks isolating the US from the rest of the world.

• He shows adulation for dictators, those that have absolute power and have accrued immense personal wealth

Russia and Putin's Plans

To really understand the mentallity of Vladimir Putin's vison you really have to appreciate the image Russia has of its self and its role in the world. This is easiest to see by looking at a few maps. It is difficult to imagine the vast size of Russia, and difficult to represent on a small screen. The image below shows the full size of Russia as it is generally recognised. We will be looking at how Russia expanded its territory, and how the area of modern eastern Europe has evolved over the last century.

Map from transend.org

Imperial Russia 1547 to 1725

Map Wikipedia

During the rule of Peter the Great, in 1721 Russia was declared an Empire. The next well known leader Catherine the Great, established a pattern of conquering more and more territories to expand the empire.

Russia in Eastern Europe 1910

By 1910 Russia had expanded its territorial control to a large part of what is now eastern and central Europe.

Map from nationsonline.org

Russia 2010

Bring back the Empire

After the end of WW2 Europe was split roughly north and south into the East and West. The Eastern side of Europe fell to the control of Russia, and was subject to its communist ideology. The western half adopted democratic systems of government. For the next 40 years there existed a bitter power struggle between the two systems of government, which was known as the Cold War. Central to this was the arms race, nuclear weapons had been used by the USA to end the war in Japan, and now Russia had to develop its own arsenal. No individual Western European country could match the military strength of Russia, and as a means to defend itself against the Russia Imperialist appetite, an alliance of countries was formed in NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, adopting the 'three musketeers' spirit of all for one, one for all. If any one member was attacked, then the others pledged their support. Russia, then called the USSR, eventually suffered an economic collapse, As a young intelligence officer of the KGB, Vladimir Putin witnessed this dramatic fall..

Map from users.erols.com

After the break up of the USSR, there were three groups of countries liberated from Moscow Rule.

The first is list of territories/countries that were part of the USSR that became recognised as sovereign nations by the UN (United Nations)

• Belarus

• Estonia

• Latvia

• Lithuania

• Ukraine

• Belarus

• Moldova

• Georgia

• Armenia

• Kyrgyzstan

• Uzbiskistan

• Tajikistan

The second group were part of an alliance know as the Warsaw Pact, Moscow equivalent of NATO. Countries in the Warsaw Pact;

• Bulgaria

• Czechosloyvakia

• Poland

• East Germany

• Albania

• Soviet Union

The last group, of countries referred to (which I believe were indirectly under the influence of Moscow or communism) were

• Armenia

• Macedonia

• Yugoslavia

• Bosnia

• Croatia

• Hungry

• Slovakia

• Romania

There is mentality in Putin and the Russian elite, that they have a right and destiny to restore the former Russian empire. It is a vison very similar to Trumps, of returning the nation to its former glory days when life was much better. Fortunately for the west, the Russian Communist Party has a strong culture of corruption, the army is based on a central command which allows little initiative, which has led to poor battlefield performance. However if Russia wins in Ukraine, that will only encourage them to start planning new military operations to conquer more territory.

Russia After WW2