The Odyssey of Captain Balk. The Stakes Are Higher Than the World

Russia’s triumph in the war against Japan changes not only the political balance in the world, but also the situation within Russia. In the “flight from revolution,” a head start has been gained—and it must be used correctly. But the reforms that, prompted by outsiders, Nicholas II decides to carry out will inevitably meet resistance from influential, irreconcilable opponents. World powers try to counter our country’s success or use it for their own ends.

England, France, and the USA step onto the path of close coordination of foreign-policy efforts. Their unchanging course of “containing Muscovy” requires support from an internal “fifth column” inside Russia—both left-radical extremists and right-conservative opponents of reforms and personally the Tsar. In turn, for Germany a window of opportunity opens. And the Kaiser is in a hurry to take advantage.

But Petersburg is not ready to rush blindly into Teutonic embraces. Love on a geopolitical scale must come with interest.