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The empire strikes back - by invitation

Superpower interventions in troubled nations aren't relics of Cold War geostrategy. Establishing spheres of influence continues.

Published Tue, Jul 21, 2015 · 09:50 PM

Vladimir Putin

THE diplomatic concept of "Empire by Invitation" reached a high point during the Cold War when the two superpowers (the United States and the Soviet Union) built empires abroad. The concept was infrequently used after that war. Now, it is back in vogue.

New evidence shows that Russia's ongoing military intervention in Ukraine is an attempt to rebuild empire - by invitation, the Russians insist.

A concept invented by Norwegian historian Geir Lundestad in th…