Malcolm Rivera
Potemkin diplomacy is a term that has been used to describe the actions of several countries, including Turkey, China, and Russia. The phrase originates from the story of a Russian soldier and statesman, Grigori Aleksandrovich Potemkin, who was a lover of Empress Catherine II. In 1787, Potemkin allegedly built fake villages along the banks of the Dnieper River to impress the Empress and foreign guests during her journey to Crimea. This story led to the coining of the phrase Potemkin village, which refers to a construction, literal or figurative, meant to create a façade and mislead people into believing that a situation is better than it actually is. In recent times, the term Potemkin diplomacy has been used to describe instances where countries engage in superficial actions or agreements to hide undesirable situations or deflect from failed policies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | The phrase "Potemkin Village" comes from stories of a fake portable village built by Grigory Potemkin, a Russian field marshal and former lover of Empress Catherine II, to impress the Empress during her journey to Crimea in 1787. |
| Definition | In politics and economics, a "Potemkin Village" refers to a construction (literal or figurative) that presents an external façade to make people believe that a situation is better than it actually is. |
| Usage | The term "Potemkin" or "Potemkin Village" is used to describe hollow or false constructs, physical or figurative, meant to hide an undesirable or potentially damaging situation. |
| Examples | - North Korea's Potemkin hospital |
- Potemkin forest: the use of a row of trees to screen a clearcut area from motorists
- Potemkin diplomacy: the use of superficial measures to whitewash mistakes or create a false impression, such as in the case of Turkey's and China's foreign policy |
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What You'll Learn
The origin of the term Potemkin diplomacy
The term "Potemkin diplomacy" originates from the story of Grigory Potemkin, a Russian soldier, statesman, and lover of Empress Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great. In 1787, Potemkin allegedly erected fake villages or "Potemkin villages" along the banks of the Dnieper River during Catherine's journey to Crimea. The purpose of these villages was to deceive the Empress and foreign guests into believing that the region was more affluent and prosperous than it actually was.
The story goes that Potemkin created these sham settlements, complete with glowing fires to comfort the monarch and her entourage as they travelled through the barren land at night. However, modern historians argue that the story may be exaggerated or even a myth. Some suggest that Potemkin merely decorated existing villages and that the Empress was aware of the deception, which was primarily directed at the foreign ambassadors accompanying her.
Over time, the phrase "Potemkin Village" has come to be used in politics and economics to describe any hollow or false construct, a façade meant to hide an undesirable situation and create an impression of stability and success. The term "Potemkin" has also been used as an adjective to describe similar deceptive practices, such as a "Potemkin forest" or a "Potemkin court".
The term "Potemkin diplomacy" specifically refers to the use of deceptive tactics in diplomacy and international relations. It implies that a country is engaging in superficial actions or agreements without addressing the underlying issues or conflicts. This term has been applied to various countries, such as China, Turkey, and North Korea, when their diplomatic efforts are seen as disingenuous or as a facade to hide their true intentions.
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The use of Potemkin diplomacy in China
Potemkin diplomacy is a term that comes from the story of a fake portable village built by Russian soldier and statesman Grigory Potemkin to impress Empress Catherine II during her journey to Crimea in 1787. The phrase "Potemkin village" has come to mean any hollow or false construct, a façade meant to hide an undesirable situation.
China's use of Potemkin diplomacy has been observed in several instances. Here are some examples:
China-North Korea Relations
China has been accused of engaging in Potemkin diplomacy in its relations with North Korea. Despite officially agreeing to sanction North Korea for its nuclear and ballistic missile activities, China has failed to rein in its close ally. Instead, it has tacitly accepted North Korea's nuclear program and even used the THAAD system as an excuse to avoid condemning North Korea through the United Nations.
China's Peacekeeping Missions
China's peacekeeping missions in Africa have also been described as Potemkin diplomacy. While China claims that its contributions to U.N. peacekeeping are intended to defend world peace and contribute to global development, critics argue that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has used these missions to facilitate the extraction of natural resources from Africa and gain valuable deployment experience for the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
China's Response to Foreign Policy Setbacks
In 2016, China was criticized for its response to a series of foreign policy setbacks. Instead of addressing the issues, China was accused of throwing a "tantrum" and engaging in missile tests. Ahead of the G-20 summit in Hangzhou, China attempted to whitewash its foreign policy by temporarily closing factories to improve air quality and downplaying diplomatic tensions.
China's Position on the Ukraine-Russia Conflict
China's position on the Ukraine-Russia conflict has also been questioned. While China has publicly supported a political settlement to the Ukraine crisis and presented itself as a neutral party, its close relationship with Russia and its failure to apply meaningful pressure on Russia suggest that its actions may be more about maintaining its image as a responsible world power rather than actively working towards a peaceful resolution.
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The use of Potemkin diplomacy in Turkey
Potemkin diplomacy, or a "Potemkin village", refers to a construction, literal or figurative, that is designed to provide an external façade to a situation, to make people believe that the situation is better than it is in reality. The term comes from the story of a fake portable village built by Grigory Potemkin, a Russian field marshal, to impress the Empress Catherine II during her journey to Crimea in 1787.
Turkey's use of Potemkin diplomacy can be seen in several areas of its policy, particularly in its defense industry and foreign policy.
In terms of its defense industry, Turkey has long sought self-sufficiency in arms production, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declaring his ambition to "completely rid [the] defense industry of foreign dependency" by 2023. While Turkey has made strides in this area, such as through its MILGEM naval indigenization program and deals with other countries, its defense indigenization program is not entirely what it claims to be. For example, only 60% of MILGEM production is local, and some Turkish weapons systems are based on foreign models, such as the T-129 Atak helicopter, which is based on AgustaWestland's A129 Mangusta.
In its foreign policy, Turkey has been accused of engaging in Potemkin diplomacy by failing to prevent transgressions of international diplomatic protocol by Russia, such as when Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, lied about Russia's invasion of Ukraine being to save it from Nazis, and insulted the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, in the presence of Turkey's Foreign Minister. Additionally, Turkey's attempts to end its self-inflicted international isolation do not seem to be creating the desired effect, and its initiatives in this area have created an unprecedented level of societal unease. Turkey's politicians have been accused of using "Potemkin Politics" to whitewash mistakes and create false optimism, rather than addressing structural problems in domestic and foreign policy.
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The use of Potemkin diplomacy in North Korea
The term "Potemkin diplomacy" comes from the historical figure Grigori Aleksandrovich Potemkin, a Russian soldier, statesman, and lover of Empress Catherine II. In 1787, Potemkin allegedly erected fake villages along the banks of the Dnieper River to impress the Empress and foreign dignitaries during their journey to Crimea. This story, though possibly exaggerated, gave rise to the concept of a Potemkin village, which refers to a facade meant to deceive and portray a false sense of prosperity and progress.
In modern times, the term "Potemkin diplomacy" has been used to describe certain diplomatic interactions and strategies that resemble the deception and facade of a Potemkin village. North Korea, a nation known for its secrecy and isolation, has often been associated with Potemkin diplomacy due to its carefully crafted public image and the disparity between its projections and the reality on the ground.
One notable example of Potemkin diplomacy in North Korea is the country's "Peace Village" or "Peace Town." This village, located in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, is known for its bright lights and tall apartment buildings. However, observers have noted that the village appears to be uninhabited, with no signs of life or activity. The illuminated buildings, visible from across the border, seem to be a facade, creating the illusion of a thriving community. This village, with its electric timers blinking the lights on and off, bears a striking resemblance to the original Potemkin villages, suggesting a carefully curated deception.
Another instance of Potemkin diplomacy in North Korea can be observed in its diplomatic interactions with the United States. The highly publicized summits between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump, particularly their impromptu meeting in the DMZ, were criticized as being more about photo opportunities and political theater than substantive progress on issues such as denuclearization. Despite the fanfare and declarations of friendship, the underlying issues remained unresolved, and North Korea continued to develop its nuclear arsenal and ballistic missile technology. The summits, devoid of tangible outcomes, exemplified Potemkin diplomacy, creating a facade of diplomacy and progress while masking the lack of concrete achievements.
Furthermore, China's role in North Korea's diplomacy cannot be overlooked when discussing Potemkin diplomacy. China, a close ally of North Korea, has been accused of engaging in Potemkin diplomacy by papering over deep diplomatic fissures and temporarily concealing its true intentions. China's support for sanctions against North Korea, while simultaneously failing to enforce them and tacitly accepting North Korea's nuclear program, exemplifies this diplomatic charade. China's actions, similar to the fake villages of Potemkin, create a facade of cooperation while potentially enabling North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
In conclusion, the use of Potemkin diplomacy in North Korea manifests in various forms, from the symbolic "Peace Village" to high-profile diplomatic summits and the complex web of international relations involving China. These examples illustrate how North Korea and its allies have employed deception, facade, and carefully curated public images to portray a sense of progress and stability, while the reality may differ significantly.
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The use of Potemkin diplomacy in Russia
Potemkin diplomacy, or a "Potemkin village", refers to a construction (literal or figurative) whose purpose is to provide an external façade to a situation, to make people believe that the situation is better than it actually is. The term comes from the story of a fake portable village built by Grigory Potemkin, a Russian field marshal, statesman, and former lover of Empress Catherine II. Potemkin allegedly built this village to impress the Empress during her journey to Crimea in 1787, following the Russian annexation of the region from the Ottoman Empire. The story goes that Potemkin erected phony portable settlements along the banks of the Dnieper River, which would be disassembled after the Empress passed and reassembled farther along her route. Modern historians, however, argue that this story is exaggerated and that Potemkin merely decorated existing cities and villages.
The phrase "Potemkin village" has since been used to describe similar situations, especially in a political context, where a false or hollow construct is created to hide an undesirable or potentially damaging situation. This term has been applied to various situations, including in the Old West of the United States, where false front architecture was used to create the illusion of affluence and stability in new frontier towns.
In terms of its use in Russia, the concept of Potemkin diplomacy has been associated with the country's historical and contemporary actions. For example, shortly after the Russian occupation of Ukraine, former Foreign Minister Andrei Kozirev referred to the Russian Armed Forces as the "Potemkin Armed Forces" on Twitter, implying that Russia was engaging in similar deceptive practices. Additionally, some commentators have warned against being tricked into "reviving the lands of Czarist Russia" and have accused Russia of leveraging the war in Ukraine to negotiate support for its Syrian ambitions.
Furthermore, the term "Potemkin Politics" has been used to describe short-term political calculations and false optimism that cannot bring permanent solutions to structural problems. This usage of the term suggests that while superficial appearances may temporarily hide underlying issues, eventually, the true state of affairs will be revealed.
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Frequently asked questions
Potemkin diplomacy is a term used to describe a country's attempt to hide undesirable or damaging situations through false constructs or facades. This term was inspired by the original Potemkin villages, fake settlements built by Grigory Potemkin, a Russian statesman and lover of Empress Catherine II, to impress her during her journey to Crimea in 1787.
Examples of Potemkin diplomacy include China's attempts to whitewash its foreign policy ahead of international meetings and photo opportunities, and Turkey's politicians leveraging the war in Ukraine to negotiate with Russia.
Countries may engage in Potemkin diplomacy to create an illusion of stability or success, distract from domestic issues, or improve their international standing.
