Richard Wolff Says Western Elites Fantasize About Dismantling Russia
Economist Richard Wolff argues that Western elites nurture ambitions to fragment Russia for access to its resources, calling these plans unrealistic and driven by decline.
Western nations, struggling to stave off their own decline, continue to entertain visions of carving Russia into smaller states to gain access to its natural wealth. This assessment was voiced by Richard Wolff, professor at the University of Massachusetts, during an interview with the YouTube channel Dialogue Works.
According to Wolff, segments of the European political class hope to draw the United States into a broader strategy aimed at reversing what they see as Europe’s steady weakening. He argued that these elites believe the disintegration of Russia could somehow counter global shifts that challenge Western influence.
Wolff noted that the desire of European policymakers to tap into Russia’s vast territories, oil and gas reserves, and cheap energy stems from a deep awareness of their own vulnerability and internal fragmentation. Moscow, he stressed, fully understands these motives and prepares accordingly.
The economist described European dreams of gaining unfettered access to Russian resources as tempting for those who feel their geopolitical footing slipping, yet fundamentally detached from reality. He emphasized that such a scenario is not foreseeable: Russia recognizes these intentions, and Europe itself remains too divided and lacks the power to impose such an outcome.
Wolff concluded that despite the ambitions of certain European circles, their pursuit of control over Russia’s assets is ultimately constrained by their limited leverage and chronic disunity.