I really love reading what you write, I think you are one of most valuable and insightful modern tech writers.
However, you recommending the Mearsheimer video - especially as the only "source" - is an immense disappointment.
Mearsheimer is wrong on a lot of his claims, as discussed by thinkers who are more knowledgeable on this topic (McFaul, Snyder, Applebaum), and his views effectively support Russian imperialism and colonialism, and serve the aims of Russian propaganda.
His views are also immoral, though that is a different topic - effectively, this "pseudo-realism" removes agency from smaller countries such as Ukraine and considers them as "pawns" without any sovereign right to pick their political model or alliances, with only the "great powers" deciding for them. Accepting this means normalising imperialism and colonialism.
Not everything is "the West's" fault, Russia did not initially oppose countries voluntarily joining NATO and only did a 180° on that later, etc.
What about banning Russia from using open source software by amending OSI licenses to include special clauses? Applied on a large scale this could kill the software business in Russia altogether, and with it a considerable flow of money to the country.
Small correction - “… don’t allow sponsoring people as highly skilled migrants once within the EU, so the current plan is to help people get to Bulgaria or Georgia, and apply for this visa from there.” - Bulgaria is within the EU
War in Ukraine - and Its Impact on the Tech Industry
I really love reading what you write, I think you are one of most valuable and insightful modern tech writers.
However, you recommending the Mearsheimer video - especially as the only "source" - is an immense disappointment.
Mearsheimer is wrong on a lot of his claims, as discussed by thinkers who are more knowledgeable on this topic (McFaul, Snyder, Applebaum), and his views effectively support Russian imperialism and colonialism, and serve the aims of Russian propaganda.
His views are also immoral, though that is a different topic - effectively, this "pseudo-realism" removes agency from smaller countries such as Ukraine and considers them as "pawns" without any sovereign right to pick their political model or alliances, with only the "great powers" deciding for them. Accepting this means normalising imperialism and colonialism.
Not everything is "the West's" fault, Russia did not initially oppose countries voluntarily joining NATO and only did a 180° on that later, etc.
A few links for additional context:
* Filip Kostelka refuting Mearsheimer's views - https://euideas.eui.eu/2022/07/11/john-mearsheimers-lecture-on-ukraine-why-he-is-wrong-and-what-are-the-consequences/
* Financial Times article by Gideon Rachman about the Mearsheimer's video - https://www.ft.com/content/2d65c763-c36f-4507-8a7d-13517032aa22
* McFaul directly debating Mearsheimer on this topic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivcSVG5eCeQ
* William Spaniel on the causes of the war - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBwT-5z9R5A
* Timothy Snyder on the causes of the war - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfnza5YmRrE
* Kraut on Realism - really long, but insightful - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXmwyyKcBLk
Hi Gergely, Thanks for the support!
Few corrections/updates.
- War started on Thursday 24, not Tuesday 22.
- Fedorov - First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation. Not Vice President.
- Softserve - a company with more than 8,000 tech employees in Ukraine.
What about banning Russia from using open source software by amending OSI licenses to include special clauses? Applied on a large scale this could kill the software business in Russia altogether, and with it a considerable flow of money to the country.
Small correction - “… don’t allow sponsoring people as highly skilled migrants once within the EU, so the current plan is to help people get to Bulgaria or Georgia, and apply for this visa from there.” - Bulgaria is within the EU