Saturday, April 07, 2007

Chicken Kiev Race

Chicken race was a perilous game among youngsters in the US during the 1950s, said to originate from East European immigrants. The game models two car drivers, both headed towards each other at high speed. The first to swerve away yields to the other. If neither player swerves, the result is a potentially fatal head-on collision.

Chicken race is an influential model of conflict for two players in game theory. The principle of the game is that while each player prefers not to yield to the opponent, the outcome where neither player yields is the worst possible one for both players.

Chicken Kiev is a dish of boneless chicken breast pounded and rolled around cold unsalted butter, then breaded and fried.

Chicken Kiev is also the label used by the media for a speech made in Kiev in 1991 by then U.S. President George H.W. Bush. It was drafted by Condoleezza Rice and cautioned Ukrainians against "suicidal nationalism". A few months later, Ukrainians voted to withdraw from the Soviet Union.

Source: Wikipedia
As Ukraine's "Easter Crisis" continues, further comments seem superfluous. Instead, I wish all friends, colleagues, and readers out there a Happy Easter.

4 comments:

BEING HAD said...

I am not sure that this is a political crisis as much as a genuine popular adjustment. I was in Kiev briefly last year and basically all of the people I spoke to there were in agreement that they did not like their current European attachments. I think a real issue is that the west has been a little fast in believing in an overwhelming and popular acceptance of its policies in the former USSR. I also think Western democratization types have been using the "Orange Revolution" as a personal confirmation that their own way of life really is the best possible system. Finding out that Ukrainians and Belarusians don't believe in it must be a bit of a shock.

Anonymous said...

Glad Påsk :)

Vilhelm Konnander said...

Dear Being Had,

It is quite obvious that western politicians and policymakers are quite out of touch with developments in the FSU. Their perspective is still far too state-centric and ideological. When it comes to finance, it's just a question of petty money. Making the connection is far too difficult for most observers. Should one thus wonder that there are misunderstandings and surprises for the West?

Yours,

Vilhelm

Vilhelm Konnander said...

Dear Jess,

Happy Easter to you too. I hope Dante is feeling better by now.

Yours,

Vilhelm