The author and co-author of five books, former VCU President Eugene P. Trani gave an open lecture Wednesday about his most recent work.
“Distorted Mirrors: Americans and Their Relations with Russia and China in the Twentieth Century” was co-written by Illinois State University professor Donald D. Davis and published in May.
At the lecture, Trani discussed the book, and highlighed American views on Russia and China and how these views impact foreign policy. Trani pointed out that the Communist parties of both Russia and China were ruled by dictators and had anti-religious and anti-capitalist policies. But in the late 1980s, there was an enormous contrast between the views America held of the two countries.
The lecture, the first of the History Faculty Lecture Series, attracted about 30 people. Andrew Chesnut and Bishop Walter F. Sullivan, Chair in Catholic Studies in the VCU School of World Studies, were also in attendance.
“I am a true globalist. Anything international interests me,” Chesnut said.
Graduate student Chris Jennings, who takes a class titled European Studies on the U.S.S.R., also attended the lecture.
“Russian immigrants are usually more negative because they are bitter, and Chinese immigrants are usually more positive. It’s interesting to see that the U.S. is more favorable to China,” Jennings said.
Trani said the negative views of Russia and the positive views of China America holds originated from two books published in 1891.
These views remain embedded in America, as illustrated by two reports by the U.S. Council of Foreign Relations: In 2006, the council reported negatively on Russia’s political directions; in 2007, it reported positively on U.S.-China relations.
Trani fears the United States’ negative responses to Russia will bring an end to America’s foreign policy supremacy.
Trani said because China needs Russia’s natural resources, and Russia needs China’s large markets, he is scared both will work against America, especially because U.S. foreign policies with Russia are so inconsistent.
“Policies don’t control images; images control policies. It’s in reverse,” Trani said, when discussing the issue that the World Trade Organization still has not admitted Russia as a member.
The discussion of images sparked a story from a man in the audience who grew up in the 50s.
“The Russians were seen as vile, evil communists,” said the man, who did not give his name.
The man said he remembered covering his head in school hallways for bomb preparations and going house-shopping for homes with built-in bomb shelters.
“It wasn’t until I was about 10 that I realized the Chinese everyone loved were Communists too.”
Some suggest Russia’s military threat might have made American views toward Russia more negative than U.S. views toward China. Trani said China will pose a different threat directed at the economy.
“China will become as much concern economically as Russia was militarily,” Trani said. “And I don’t think we’re ready for that at all.”