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Collisions: The Origins of the War in Ukraine and the New Global Instability
One war, three collisions--in this vividly written, narrative history of the war in Ukraine, Michael Kimmage puts together the pieces of a complicated international puzzle to understand the origins of the current conflict that has brought the world to the brink of a new Cold War.
In Collisions , Michael Kimmage, a historian and former State Department official who focused on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, offers a wide-angle, historically informed account of the origins of the current Russia-Ukraine war. Tracing the development of Ukraine and Russia's fractious relationship back to the end of the Cold War, Kimmage takes readers through the central events that led to Vladimir Putin seizing a large portion of Ukraine--the Crimea--in 2014 and, eight years later, initiating arguably the most intensive military conflict of the entire post-World War II era.
From the halls of power in Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow to the battlefields of Ukraine, Kimmage chronicles Putin's ascendency to the Russian presidency, delves into multiple American presidencies and their dealings with Russia and Europe, and recounts Europe's efforts to incorporate Ukraine into the European Union. He tells the story of how Ukraine went from an embattled country on the edge of Europe to a formidable military power capable of pushing back the Russian military. Just as importantly, Kimmage captures how the current war has transformed multiple great powers--including the EU, the US, and China--and dramatically altered the path of globalization itself. He makes the case that the war in Ukraine has shifted the direction of major macro-trends in world politics, contributing to the rise of China, higher inflation, and the general collapse of arms control. These intersecting dangers amount to a new age of global instability, born in war and in the collision between Russia and
the United States that has brought the world to the brink of a new Cold War.
An authoritative interpretation of possibly the most important geopolitical event of the post-Cold War era, Collisions is essential reading for anyone interested in the origins of this epochal conflict and its ripple effects across the globe.
In Collisions , Michael Kimmage, a historian and former State Department official who focused on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, offers a wide-angle, historically informed account of the origins of the current Russia-Ukraine war. Tracing the development of Ukraine and Russia's fractious relationship back to the end of the Cold War, Kimmage takes readers through the central events that led to Vladimir Putin seizing a large portion of Ukraine--the Crimea--in 2014 and, eight years later, initiating arguably the most intensive military conflict of the entire post-World War II era.
From the halls of power in Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow to the battlefields of Ukraine, Kimmage chronicles Putin's ascendency to the Russian presidency, delves into multiple American presidencies and their dealings with Russia and Europe, and recounts Europe's efforts to incorporate Ukraine into the European Union. He tells the story of how Ukraine went from an embattled country on the edge of Europe to a formidable military power capable of pushing back the Russian military. Just as importantly, Kimmage captures how the current war has transformed multiple great powers--including the EU, the US, and China--and dramatically altered the path of globalization itself. He makes the case that the war in Ukraine has shifted the direction of major macro-trends in world politics, contributing to the rise of China, higher inflation, and the general collapse of arms control. These intersecting dangers amount to a new age of global instability, born in war and in the collision between Russia and
the United States that has brought the world to the brink of a new Cold War.
An authoritative interpretation of possibly the most important geopolitical event of the post-Cold War era, Collisions is essential reading for anyone interested in the origins of this epochal conflict and its ripple effects across the globe.
296 pages, Hardcover
First published March 22, 2024
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April 5, 2025
Collisions: The Origins of the War in Ukraine and the New Global Instability, Michael Kimmage, 2024, 282 pages, ISBN 9780197751794, Dewey 947.0864
The more lies and spin you're exposed to, the less you know. Give this one a miss.
Kimmage's take is colored by his USA-first perspective.
Presents the U.S. State Department view. Which is that the U.S. always has only good intentions; anything wrong is someone else's fault. It would not occur to the author to question whether inviting Ukraine to join an anti-Russian military alliance was wise. Opines, "NATO expansion enhanced peace, democracy, and Western leadership in Europe. It was win-win." p. 37.
Our author makes the untrue claim that, "The U.S. did not advocate the toppling of Yanukovych's government." p. 99. For the truth, see Medea Benjamin, /War in Ukraine/, 2022, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... :
Claims that the U.S. Government in 1947 did not want the Cold War! p. 4. In fact, the USSR was in shambles. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... U.S. officials lied overtime to persuade people that the USSR was a dire threat, and we /had/ to keep the war bucks flowing.
Claims the U.S. was "intent on exporting democracy" in the 1990s. p. 7. And that "the West placed a premium on political pluralism and civic engagement in politics." p. 76. And that for powers to carve the world into spheres of influence is a practice left behind in the 1800s. p. 79.
No, no, no, and no. See Noam Chomsky, /What Uncle Sam Really Wants/, for a quick refresher on what the U.S. exports worldwide, and in whose interest. The U.S. has destroyed millions of lives and trillions of dollars to make the world safe for the rich to plunder the rest. We've destroyed democratically-elected governments, armed bloody dictators worldwide. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Tells us that the U.S. resolved the crisis in the Balkans in 1994! p. 80.
Claims the world is "dominated by terror and counterterrorism." p. 58. That's the world in the diseased imagination of the U.S. Government--which the U.S. Government is working to make real. See, for example, Chomsky, above.
Claims that "Europe's democratization was the result" of Reagan's name-calling the USSR an evil empire! pp. 32, 46. And that "American power buried the USSR in backwardness." p. 60. Then on p. 57, admits that the peaceful fall of the Iron Curtain was Russia's choice.
Claims that what U.S. economic advisers did in Russia during the Clinton years was to "therapeutically shock the Russian economy into life!" p. 43. No mention of fire sales of public resources to oligarchs, both Western and Russian.
Of the Bush II wars, our author says, "When tragedy struck on September 11, the consuming mission of his presidency was thrust upon him." p. 39. To the contrary, a terrorist act by a small criminal band required a law-enforcement response. Instead, Bush started a 20-year destruction of the people of Afghanistan, and a thorough destruction and unending occupation of Iraq--none of whose people had anything to do with the terrorist attack.
Calls Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman, and George H.W. Bush, "statesmen." pp. 25-26. [Wilson helped make WWII inevitable by agreeing with France to demand unpayable reparations from Germany after WWI; Truman created the CIA; Bush Senior gave us Iran-Contra.]
The author opines that French "president of the rich," Zionist Emmanuel Macron, is a "visionary leader." p. 6. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polit...
Calls Silicon Valley, "democratic!" p. 60. No, each company is an autocracy. Maybe the author is confusing the word, "democratic" with, "capitalist." A habit of the ruling class.
The author is a former U.S. State-department functionary (his word), and writes for /Foreign Affairs/, the house organ of the U.S. foreign-policy establishment. p. xi.
Look to /War in Ukraine/, Medea Benjamin & Nicolas J.S. Davies, 2022, for facts and perspectives that Uncle Sam prefers we not be aware of: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... . Other war-in-Ukraine books: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Political power and wealth walk hand in hand. Oligarchs are a country's unelected governors. p. 55.
1654 Eastern Ukraine is in the Russian empire. p. 9.
1952 Vladmir Putin born. p. 51.
1954 Crimea becomes part of Ukraine (was Russia). p. 84.
After the 1991 end of the USSR, Russians' living standards dropped sharply. p. 49.
1994-2005 Leonid Kuchma presidency. Much of Ukraine is sold to the highest bidder. p. x.
1998 financial crash. Many Russians lost their savings, their jobs, their retirements. p. 53.
1999 Former Soviet satellites Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland join NATO. pp. 45, 81.
2000 Vladimir Putin is president of Russia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladi...
Putin intimidated, imprisoned, or exiled those oligarchs who considered themselves above the state or outside the state. p. 55.
2002 U.S. unilaterally withdraws from the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty. p. 58.
2004 Former Soviet Socialist Republics Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia join NATO, as do former Soviet satellites Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. p. 45.
2004 Viktor Yushchenko presidency. p. 36.
2008.05 Complying with the Russian constitution's limitation of two presidential terms, Putin steps down into the prime minister's role, permitting Dmitry Medvedev to be president. pp. 19, 45, 64.
2008.06 NATO offers Georgia membership. U.S. gives Georgia a false sense of security. p. 82.
2008.08 Russia invades Georgia. p. 82.
2010-2014.01 President Viktor Yanukovych plundered Ukraine. pp. 1-2.
2011.05 Medvedev says Ukraine has a right to pursue European integration, but warns about missiles in eastern Europe. p. 65.
2011 At Vice President Joe Biden's request, Medvedev abstains from a U.N. Security Council vote on U.S./NATO entering a civil war in Libya. p. 67.
2011-2012 Obama bombs Libya, prodded by Hillary Clinton and other hawks. p. 91.
2012 Putin again assumes presidency of Russia. This time he'll stay.
2013.11 Yanukovych refuses to sign a free-trade pact with the European Union, in part to get $15 billion that Russian president Putin offered him. pp. 2-3.
2014.02.21 President Yanukovych flees to Russia, in the face of protests of his policies, larceny, and killings of protesters. p. 3.
2014.02-2015.02 War in Ukraine. p. 5. Russia annexes Crimea. pp. 12, 16.
2019- Presidency of Volodymyr Zelensky, former television actor, is dominated by oligarchs. p. 5.
"What forced the war was the growth of Athenian power and Spartan fear of it." --Thucydides. Putin in 2022 feared and resented Ukrainian alignment with Western power. pp. xi-xii.
2022.02.24 Russia invaded Ukraine. p. 1. Hoping to annex half of it. p. 3.
The more lies and spin you're exposed to, the less you know. Give this one a miss.
Kimmage's take is colored by his USA-first perspective.
Presents the U.S. State Department view. Which is that the U.S. always has only good intentions; anything wrong is someone else's fault. It would not occur to the author to question whether inviting Ukraine to join an anti-Russian military alliance was wise. Opines, "NATO expansion enhanced peace, democracy, and Western leadership in Europe. It was win-win." p. 37.
Our author makes the untrue claim that, "The U.S. did not advocate the toppling of Yanukovych's government." p. 99. For the truth, see Medea Benjamin, /War in Ukraine/, 2022, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... :
2013.12 The U.S. Government (under Obama) had so far given $5 billion to political opponents of the Ukrainian government. pp. 38-39.
2014.02 As pro-Western Ukrainians (including Fascists) protested the failures of the Ukrainian government, Obama's Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt were selecting which officials they wanted in a new Ukrainian government, after the current government would be overthrown. They wanted Arseniy Yatsenyuk as prime minister. pp. 36-37. They recruited U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to help bring about the desired regime change. pp. 37-38. The Obama administration was providing lavish funding, weapons, and military training to militant opponents of Ukraine's government, violating the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and provoking Russia to consider military intervention. p. 38, 71.
Claims that the U.S. Government in 1947 did not want the Cold War! p. 4. In fact, the USSR was in shambles. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... U.S. officials lied overtime to persuade people that the USSR was a dire threat, and we /had/ to keep the war bucks flowing.
Claims the U.S. was "intent on exporting democracy" in the 1990s. p. 7. And that "the West placed a premium on political pluralism and civic engagement in politics." p. 76. And that for powers to carve the world into spheres of influence is a practice left behind in the 1800s. p. 79.
No, no, no, and no. See Noam Chomsky, /What Uncle Sam Really Wants/, for a quick refresher on what the U.S. exports worldwide, and in whose interest. The U.S. has destroyed millions of lives and trillions of dollars to make the world safe for the rich to plunder the rest. We've destroyed democratically-elected governments, armed bloody dictators worldwide. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Tells us that the U.S. resolved the crisis in the Balkans in 1994! p. 80.
Claims the world is "dominated by terror and counterterrorism." p. 58. That's the world in the diseased imagination of the U.S. Government--which the U.S. Government is working to make real. See, for example, Chomsky, above.
Claims that "Europe's democratization was the result" of Reagan's name-calling the USSR an evil empire! pp. 32, 46. And that "American power buried the USSR in backwardness." p. 60. Then on p. 57, admits that the peaceful fall of the Iron Curtain was Russia's choice.
Claims that what U.S. economic advisers did in Russia during the Clinton years was to "therapeutically shock the Russian economy into life!" p. 43. No mention of fire sales of public resources to oligarchs, both Western and Russian.
Of the Bush II wars, our author says, "When tragedy struck on September 11, the consuming mission of his presidency was thrust upon him." p. 39. To the contrary, a terrorist act by a small criminal band required a law-enforcement response. Instead, Bush started a 20-year destruction of the people of Afghanistan, and a thorough destruction and unending occupation of Iraq--none of whose people had anything to do with the terrorist attack.
Calls Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman, and George H.W. Bush, "statesmen." pp. 25-26. [Wilson helped make WWII inevitable by agreeing with France to demand unpayable reparations from Germany after WWI; Truman created the CIA; Bush Senior gave us Iran-Contra.]
The author opines that French "president of the rich," Zionist Emmanuel Macron, is a "visionary leader." p. 6. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polit...
Calls Silicon Valley, "democratic!" p. 60. No, each company is an autocracy. Maybe the author is confusing the word, "democratic" with, "capitalist." A habit of the ruling class.
The author is a former U.S. State-department functionary (his word), and writes for /Foreign Affairs/, the house organ of the U.S. foreign-policy establishment. p. xi.
Look to /War in Ukraine/, Medea Benjamin & Nicolas J.S. Davies, 2022, for facts and perspectives that Uncle Sam prefers we not be aware of: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... . Other war-in-Ukraine books: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Political power and wealth walk hand in hand. Oligarchs are a country's unelected governors. p. 55.
1654 Eastern Ukraine is in the Russian empire. p. 9.
1952 Vladmir Putin born. p. 51.
1954 Crimea becomes part of Ukraine (was Russia). p. 84.
After the 1991 end of the USSR, Russians' living standards dropped sharply. p. 49.
1994-2005 Leonid Kuchma presidency. Much of Ukraine is sold to the highest bidder. p. x.
1998 financial crash. Many Russians lost their savings, their jobs, their retirements. p. 53.
1999 Former Soviet satellites Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland join NATO. pp. 45, 81.
2000 Vladimir Putin is president of Russia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladi...
Putin intimidated, imprisoned, or exiled those oligarchs who considered themselves above the state or outside the state. p. 55.
2002 U.S. unilaterally withdraws from the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty. p. 58.
2004 Former Soviet Socialist Republics Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia join NATO, as do former Soviet satellites Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. p. 45.
2004 Viktor Yushchenko presidency. p. 36.
2008.05 Complying with the Russian constitution's limitation of two presidential terms, Putin steps down into the prime minister's role, permitting Dmitry Medvedev to be president. pp. 19, 45, 64.
2008.06 NATO offers Georgia membership. U.S. gives Georgia a false sense of security. p. 82.
2008.08 Russia invades Georgia. p. 82.
2010-2014.01 President Viktor Yanukovych plundered Ukraine. pp. 1-2.
2011.05 Medvedev says Ukraine has a right to pursue European integration, but warns about missiles in eastern Europe. p. 65.
2011 At Vice President Joe Biden's request, Medvedev abstains from a U.N. Security Council vote on U.S./NATO entering a civil war in Libya. p. 67.
2011-2012 Obama bombs Libya, prodded by Hillary Clinton and other hawks. p. 91.
2012 Putin again assumes presidency of Russia. This time he'll stay.
2013.11 Yanukovych refuses to sign a free-trade pact with the European Union, in part to get $15 billion that Russian president Putin offered him. pp. 2-3.
2014.02.21 President Yanukovych flees to Russia, in the face of protests of his policies, larceny, and killings of protesters. p. 3.
2014.02-2015.02 War in Ukraine. p. 5. Russia annexes Crimea. pp. 12, 16.
2019- Presidency of Volodymyr Zelensky, former television actor, is dominated by oligarchs. p. 5.
"What forced the war was the growth of Athenian power and Spartan fear of it." --Thucydides. Putin in 2022 feared and resented Ukrainian alignment with Western power. pp. xi-xii.
2022.02.24 Russia invaded Ukraine. p. 1. Hoping to annex half of it. p. 3.
June 20, 2024
Book Review: "Collisions: The War in Ukraine and the Origins of the New Global Instability" by Michael Kimmage
Michael Kimmage’s "Collisions: The War in Ukraine and the Origins of the New Global Instability" is a timely and thought-provoking exploration of the geopolitical upheaval precipitated by the Ukraine conflict. As a seasoned historian and former State Department official, Kimmage's deep understanding of global politics and his ability to draw on historical precedents make "Collisions" a significant and credible contribution to contemporary political discourse.
Kimmage sets the stage by meticulously tracing the historical roots of the Ukraine conflict. He tackles the complex relationship between Ukraine and Russia, highlighting the cultural, political, and economic ties that have bound the two nations for centuries. This historical context is crucial for readers to grasp the profound significance of the current conflict. Kimmage argues that the war is not merely a regional dispute but a manifestation of deeper, long-standing tensions within the post-Cold War order.
One of the book’s strengths is Kimmage’s ability to connect the dots between the Ukraine conflict and broader global instability. He posits that the war is a symptom of a more significant geopolitical shift, wherein the unipolar world dominated by the United States gives way to a multipolar order. This transition, he argues, has been marked by increasing friction between major powers, as evidenced by the tensions in the South China Sea, the rise of populism in Europe, and the resurgence of authoritarianism in various parts of the world.
Kimmage’s narrative is compelling and well-supported by a wealth of research. For instance, he draws on government documents such as [specific document], historical records like [specific record], and contemporary analyses such as [specific analysis]. His writing is clear and accessible, making complex geopolitical concepts understandable to a broad audience.
While 'Collisions' excels in providing a historical and geopolitical overview, it's important to note its limitations. Kimmage's analysis sometimes lacks depth in examining the human impact of the conflict. The book could benefit from more personal stories and testimonies from those directly affected by the war. Such narratives would add a layer of emotional resonance to the analysis, making the stakes of the conflict more palpable for readers. This balanced critique highlights the book's strengths and areas for improvement.
Furthermore, Kimmage’s focus on high-level geopolitical dynamics sometimes comes at the expense of a more granular examination of the internal dynamics within Ukraine. The book could delve deeper into the political, social, and economic challenges facing Ukraine and the country's diverse perspectives regarding the conflict. This would provide a more balanced view and help readers understand the multifaceted nature of the crisis.
Kimmage’s discussion of the West’s response to the Ukraine conflict is insightful but somewhat uneven. He rightly criticizes the initial hesitancy and lack of cohesion among Western powers, arguing that a more decisive and unified response could have deterred further aggression. However, his analysis of the subsequent sanctions and military support is less detailed. A more thorough examination of the effectiveness and consequences of these measures would enhance the book’s discussion of the West’s role in the conflict.
Despite criticisms, 'Collisions' is a unique and valuable addition to the literature on the Ukraine conflict and global instability. Kimmage’s ability to situate the war within the broader context of international relations is particularly commendable. He convincingly argues that the Ukraine conflict is a watershed moment that has accelerated the erosion of the post-Cold War order and highlighted the fragility of the current global system.
"Collisions: The War in Ukraine and the Origins of the New Global Instability" is a compelling and thought-provoking book that comprehensively analyzes one of our time's most significant geopolitical crises. In a world where understanding global affairs is more crucial than ever, Kimmage's work is a vital resource. While it could benefit from a more in-depth exploration of the human and internal dynamics of the conflict, his insights into the shifting global order and the increasing instability in international relations make this book a must-read for policymakers, scholars, and anyone deeply engaged in contemporary global affairs.
Michael Kimmage’s "Collisions: The War in Ukraine and the Origins of the New Global Instability" is a timely and thought-provoking exploration of the geopolitical upheaval precipitated by the Ukraine conflict. As a seasoned historian and former State Department official, Kimmage's deep understanding of global politics and his ability to draw on historical precedents make "Collisions" a significant and credible contribution to contemporary political discourse.
Kimmage sets the stage by meticulously tracing the historical roots of the Ukraine conflict. He tackles the complex relationship between Ukraine and Russia, highlighting the cultural, political, and economic ties that have bound the two nations for centuries. This historical context is crucial for readers to grasp the profound significance of the current conflict. Kimmage argues that the war is not merely a regional dispute but a manifestation of deeper, long-standing tensions within the post-Cold War order.
One of the book’s strengths is Kimmage’s ability to connect the dots between the Ukraine conflict and broader global instability. He posits that the war is a symptom of a more significant geopolitical shift, wherein the unipolar world dominated by the United States gives way to a multipolar order. This transition, he argues, has been marked by increasing friction between major powers, as evidenced by the tensions in the South China Sea, the rise of populism in Europe, and the resurgence of authoritarianism in various parts of the world.
Kimmage’s narrative is compelling and well-supported by a wealth of research. For instance, he draws on government documents such as [specific document], historical records like [specific record], and contemporary analyses such as [specific analysis]. His writing is clear and accessible, making complex geopolitical concepts understandable to a broad audience.
While 'Collisions' excels in providing a historical and geopolitical overview, it's important to note its limitations. Kimmage's analysis sometimes lacks depth in examining the human impact of the conflict. The book could benefit from more personal stories and testimonies from those directly affected by the war. Such narratives would add a layer of emotional resonance to the analysis, making the stakes of the conflict more palpable for readers. This balanced critique highlights the book's strengths and areas for improvement.
Furthermore, Kimmage’s focus on high-level geopolitical dynamics sometimes comes at the expense of a more granular examination of the internal dynamics within Ukraine. The book could delve deeper into the political, social, and economic challenges facing Ukraine and the country's diverse perspectives regarding the conflict. This would provide a more balanced view and help readers understand the multifaceted nature of the crisis.
Kimmage’s discussion of the West’s response to the Ukraine conflict is insightful but somewhat uneven. He rightly criticizes the initial hesitancy and lack of cohesion among Western powers, arguing that a more decisive and unified response could have deterred further aggression. However, his analysis of the subsequent sanctions and military support is less detailed. A more thorough examination of the effectiveness and consequences of these measures would enhance the book’s discussion of the West’s role in the conflict.
Despite criticisms, 'Collisions' is a unique and valuable addition to the literature on the Ukraine conflict and global instability. Kimmage’s ability to situate the war within the broader context of international relations is particularly commendable. He convincingly argues that the Ukraine conflict is a watershed moment that has accelerated the erosion of the post-Cold War order and highlighted the fragility of the current global system.
"Collisions: The War in Ukraine and the Origins of the New Global Instability" is a compelling and thought-provoking book that comprehensively analyzes one of our time's most significant geopolitical crises. In a world where understanding global affairs is more crucial than ever, Kimmage's work is a vital resource. While it could benefit from a more in-depth exploration of the human and internal dynamics of the conflict, his insights into the shifting global order and the increasing instability in international relations make this book a must-read for policymakers, scholars, and anyone deeply engaged in contemporary global affairs.
March 9, 2024
You can read my published review here.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...
May 27, 2024
Collisions is an incredibly important book in clearly explaining the background of the war in Ukraine that began in February 2022. The conflict didn't just materialize out of thin air, and Kimmage expertly lays out the reasons why. By examining the positions of the West - the United States and Europe - and Russia in the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, as well as the political situation of Ukraine, the points of contact between each of these each had a part to play in the conflict's begining.
The unprecedented era of peace and stability that followed the end of World War II in general, and the fall of the Soviet Union more specifically, has come to an end. This book is important in understanding why it's over, how it happened, and what these changes mean for the future.
The unprecedented era of peace and stability that followed the end of World War II in general, and the fall of the Soviet Union more specifically, has come to an end. This book is important in understanding why it's over, how it happened, and what these changes mean for the future.
May 1, 2025
This book does very well what it set out to do, which is to provide a contemporary overview of the war in Ukraine and the factors and implications therein. While this book skews a bit too much from an American Foreign Policy perspective (which is noted in the introduction by the author), it nonetheless provides a good framework from which the war in Ukraine can be understood. I'd recommend this book to the people who don't know much about the war in Ukraine, and for people who have read this book, I'd recommend you also look more into Ukrainian and Russian history, such as the Holodomor and the Bolshevik Revolution
Read
May 5, 2024 (The English review is placed beneath the Russian one)
Невероятно скучная книга о международной политике в контексте отношений между Россией и Западными странами за время правления Путина. Автор прошёлся по основным темам, начиная с международной политики в отношении РФ Буша младшего и «перезагрузки» Обамы, продолжив «стандартным» описанием таких тем как вторжения России в Грузию и Украину, событий во время Майдана 2014 года, прихода Трампа и пр. Проблема книги состоит в том, что автор выдаёт за реальность всё то, что он видит и слышит из уст официальных представителей РФ, включая президента. С точки зрения автора РФ воссоздаёт советскую международную политику со сферами интересов во главе, включая болезненный для России вопрос расширения НАТО. С моей же точки зрения все военные конфликты, в которых участвовала путинская Россия, есть не проявление советской или имперской политики, а способ повышения популярности Владимира Путина внутри страны, а также попытка торпедировать «оранжевую революцию» в самой России.
Автор не анализирует ситуацию, не ищет ответы под «кремлёвским ковром», а банально пересказывает американские СМИ за последние двадцать лет. Я не могу сказать, что автор совсем ошибается, но его взгляд очень уж «официальный», т.е. такой который можно увидеть на страницах основных СМИ США и ЕС. В этом смысле обложка у книги вводит потенциального читателя в заблуждение, ибо книга в меньшей степени об Украине или украино-российских отношениях. В общем, в итоге получился очень поверхностный и «стандартный» взгляд на международную политику РФ со странами Запада.
Incredibly boring book about international politics in the context of relations between Russia and Western countries during Putin's reign. The author went through the main topics, starting with the international policy towards Russia of Bush Jr. and Obama's "overload/reset," continuing with the "standard" description of such topics as Russia's invasions of Georgia and Ukraine, the events during the Maidan of 2014, the rise of Trump, etc. The problem with the book is that the author passes off as reality everything he sees and hears from the Russian officials, including the president. From the author's point of view, the Russian Federation is recreating Soviet international politics with spheres of interest at its head, including the painful issue of NATO enlargement for Russia. In my view, however, all the military conflicts in which Putin's Russia has been involved are not a manifestation of Soviet or imperial policy but a way of increasing Vladimir Putin's popularity inside the country, as well as an attempt to torpedo (to stop) the "orange revolution" in Russia itself.
The author does not analyze the situation, does not look for answers under the "Kremlin carpet," but simply recounts the American media for the last twenty years. I can't say that the author is completely wrong, but his view is very "official," i.e., the one that can be seen on the pages of the mainstream US and EU media. In this sense, the cover of the book misleads because the book is less about Ukraine or Ukrainian-Russian relations. In general, the result is a very superficial and "standard" view of Russia's international policy with Western countries.
Невероятно скучная книга о международной политике в контексте отношений между Россией и Западными странами за время правления Путина. Автор прошёлся по основным темам, начиная с международной политики в отношении РФ Буша младшего и «перезагрузки» Обамы, продолжив «стандартным» описанием таких тем как вторжения России в Грузию и Украину, событий во время Майдана 2014 года, прихода Трампа и пр. Проблема книги состоит в том, что автор выдаёт за реальность всё то, что он видит и слышит из уст официальных представителей РФ, включая президента. С точки зрения автора РФ воссоздаёт советскую международную политику со сферами интересов во главе, включая болезненный для России вопрос расширения НАТО. С моей же точки зрения все военные конфликты, в которых участвовала путинская Россия, есть не проявление советской или имперской политики, а способ повышения популярности Владимира Путина внутри страны, а также попытка торпедировать «оранжевую революцию» в самой России.
Автор не анализирует ситуацию, не ищет ответы под «кремлёвским ковром», а банально пересказывает американские СМИ за последние двадцать лет. Я не могу сказать, что автор совсем ошибается, но его взгляд очень уж «официальный», т.е. такой который можно увидеть на страницах основных СМИ США и ЕС. В этом смысле обложка у книги вводит потенциального читателя в заблуждение, ибо книга в меньшей степени об Украине или украино-российских отношениях. В общем, в итоге получился очень поверхностный и «стандартный» взгляд на международную политику РФ со странами Запада.
Incredibly boring book about international politics in the context of relations between Russia and Western countries during Putin's reign. The author went through the main topics, starting with the international policy towards Russia of Bush Jr. and Obama's "overload/reset," continuing with the "standard" description of such topics as Russia's invasions of Georgia and Ukraine, the events during the Maidan of 2014, the rise of Trump, etc. The problem with the book is that the author passes off as reality everything he sees and hears from the Russian officials, including the president. From the author's point of view, the Russian Federation is recreating Soviet international politics with spheres of interest at its head, including the painful issue of NATO enlargement for Russia. In my view, however, all the military conflicts in which Putin's Russia has been involved are not a manifestation of Soviet or imperial policy but a way of increasing Vladimir Putin's popularity inside the country, as well as an attempt to torpedo (to stop) the "orange revolution" in Russia itself.
The author does not analyze the situation, does not look for answers under the "Kremlin carpet," but simply recounts the American media for the last twenty years. I can't say that the author is completely wrong, but his view is very "official," i.e., the one that can be seen on the pages of the mainstream US and EU media. In this sense, the cover of the book misleads because the book is less about Ukraine or Ukrainian-Russian relations. In general, the result is a very superficial and "standard" view of Russia's international policy with Western countries.
Read
August 31, 2024DNF (i barely made it past the prologue preread thing where he talked about how history must be written even before the weapons have been laid on the floor)
November 7, 2024
Outstanding. This book captures the events leading up to the wars in Europe and the current state of play in the international arena.
November 17, 2024
Author is liberal with a view of history that is seen through the prism of his liberalism. Democrat good! Republican bad!
A waist of time to read
A waist of time to read
November 17, 2024
Lots of learning about Ukraine and how different administrations have handled UKR foreign policy
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