Articles by Albrecht Rothacher

March 15, 2023

The Americans are determining the course of the Ukraine war – but at what cost?

Albrecht Rothacher

Starting with Seymour Hersh’s account of the destruction of the Nord Stream pipeline, Albrecht Rothacher argues that it is important to consider how far American interests are shaping the direction of the war in Ukraine. He cautions that in the long term, it could turn out to be a strategic blunder

December 1, 2022

Peace in our time in Ukraine

Albrecht Rothacher

Albrecht Rothacher argues that an end to hostilities in Ukraine in the context of a Peace Plan is not unforeseeable. It is in the interest of all sides. He identifies the steps that need to be taken and the people likely to be involved

November 9, 2022

Putin’s nuclear weapons talk is a bluff, but one with significant consequences

Albrecht Rothacher

President Putin has been clear in his intentions to use all force necessary, including nuclear weapons, to achieve his goals. This, argues Albrecht Rothacher, is a bluff, but its very use has hugely damaging consequences for international relations

November 4, 2022

Sanctions on Russia: short-term survival, long-term destitution

Albrecht Rothacher

Albrecht Rothacher assesses the impact of sanctions on the Russian economy. He argues that, in the short-term, sanctions will have little impact – except on the peoples of Europe whose governments are imposing them. Yet, the long-term implications for the Russian economy could be more far-reaching, if not devastating

September 20, 2022

China's aggression towards Taiwan is more bark than bite

Albrecht Rothacher

Albrecht Rothacher contends that China’s recent threats towards Taiwan in response to Nancy Pelosi’s visit should not be taken at face value. An invasion of Taiwan would be a highly dangerous mission for China, carrying enormous costs for both China, the US and Europe

June 13, 2022

Russia’s quasi-colonial dependence on China

Albrecht Rothacher

he Russian invasion of Ukraine has exposed Russia’s growing dependence on China, argues Albrecht Rothacher. China’s ambitions to displace the US as the main world power contrast vividly with Russia’s long-term stagnation and decline. It's a decline exacerbated by the latest Western economic sanctions

May 19, 2022

Has Ukraine saved Taiwan?

Albrecht Rothacher

Albrecht Rothacher argues that the Russian experience of invading Ukraine has caused China to rethink its militaristic intentions regarding Taiwan. What once might have been perceived as a ‘solution’ to the Taiwanese problem now looks unfeasible in the light of Ukraine’s and the West’s response to Russian aggression

February 4, 2022

Putin's high-risk poker game in Ukraine

Albrecht Rothacher

Albrecht Rothacher argues that Putin’s power play over Ukraine, while being driven by the West’s current weakness, serves neither Russia or the West. The two sides should, instead, lower tensions and address together several long-standing issues at the heart of current international instability

November 20, 2020

Putinomics and Covid-19 is slowly killing Russia’s economy

Albrecht Rothacher

The impact of Covid-19 has laid bare the structural weaknesses of the Russian economy, dependent as it is upon nefarious practices and long-term assumptions about perennial growth in the world market for oil and gas, writes Albrecht Rothacher. And in the face of rising Chinese competition, future prospects are bleak

Albrecht Rothacher

Independent Researcher

Albrecht gained his MA in sociology from the University of Bridgeport in 1978, and a PhD in international relations from LSE in 1982.

A stint at Deutsche Bank in the EU’s diplomatic service followed from 1984–2020, with postings in Vienna, Singapore, Paris and Tokyo, lastly as Minister Councillor, mostly dealing with economic and trade issues.

He then worked in Brussels as a policy officer, mostly concerned with economic relations with countries 'East of Berlin and Vienna'; lastly with Russia mainly.

He has published 24 books mostly on Asian affairs, economic and military history, but most recently a biography on the French presidents of the 5th Republic.

Current research work includes a collective biography of the Austrian chancellors of the 2nd Republic, and French colonial wars 1945–1962 (Indochina and Algeria).

Articles by Albrecht Rothacher

The Americans are determining the course of the Ukraine war – but at what cost?

Peace in our time in Ukraine

Putin’s nuclear weapons talk is a bluff, but one with significant consequences

Sanctions on Russia: short-term survival, long-term destitution

China's aggression towards Taiwan is more bark than bite

Russia’s quasi-colonial dependence on China

Has Ukraine saved Taiwan?

Putin's high-risk poker game in Ukraine

Putinomics and Covid-19 is slowly killing Russia’s economy

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