The Russian Understanding of War: Blurring the Lines between War and Peace

by Oscar Jonsson

This book analyzes the evolution of Russian military thought and how Russia's current thinking about war is reflected in recent crises. While other books describe current Russian practice, Oscar Jonsson provides the long view to show how Russian military strategic thinking has developed from the Bolshevik Revolution to the present. He closely examines Russian primary sources including security doctrines and the writings and statements of Russian military theorists and political elites. What Jonsson reveals is that Russia's conception of the very nature of war is now changing, as Russian elites see information warfare and political subversion as the most important ways to conduct contemporary war. Since information warfare and political subversion are below the traditional threshold of armed violence, this has blurred the boundaries between war and peace. Jonsson also finds that Russian leaders have, particularly since 2011-12, considered themselves to be at war with the United States and its allies, albeit with non-violent means. This book provides much needed context and analysis to be able to understand recent Russian interventions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine, how to deter Russia on the eastern borders of NATO, and how the West must also learn to avoid inadvertent escalation.

Genres: Russia, Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Jaws, International Relations, Politics

Audible Audio

First published November 19, 2021

Reviews

[Elena Calistru · Rating 5 out of 5]

O lectură absolut necesară în zilele în care îți bate războiul cu Rusia la ușă. Deși vorbim de o teză de doctorat, e destul de accesibilizată pentru publicul larg. Acoperă viziunea militară și a decidenților politici privind războiul și ce îl face acceptabil, pornind de la doctrina sovietică, trecând prin tranziție post-URSS și ajungând la ceea ce e perceput ca fiind marea revoluție în materie (informația/ tehnologia & color revolutions).
Sincer, și dacă citiți doar capitolul de concluzii, cred că înțelegeți mai bine care e miza marii tensiuni între Vest și Est acum.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revising my review due to the current war. This book has changed the way I interpret Putin's actions and speeches. The first chapter is heavy in academic jargon, yes, but I pushed through without getting stuck in the details and benefited greatly. This is the only book that helps me make any sense of what's going on, and I have read quite a few on both Putin, Russian history and culture, and the Russian political system.

[David Auth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lot denser than I initially thought it would be, though his main points are explained very convincingly. I wish the author had gone into a bit more detail about how color revolutions and information warfare/ propaganda has been utilized. After reading this and then seeing how many of those “America First” or random MAGA Twitter accounts are operated from foreign countries and pretend to be Americans, it seems very likely to me that a good portion of the online right is being instigated for destabilization purposes.

[Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of Russia’s evolution of the concept of war from Soviet times to the present.

[Torgeir Sæteren · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you would like to add knowledge to your opinions.

[Scott Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Audiobook) Normally, a book about military doctrine can serve as a great substitute for a sleep aid, or primarily serves as a resource to find the obligatory dead-guy quotes someone needs for an academic presentation. However, this work manages to offer insight into Russian military doctrine and their philosophy of warfare, and while it is a theory, it is one that seems to be borne out in the actions of the Russian leaders especially in the past few years.

According to the research of Jonsson, Russian's view of war dates back to the writings and analysis of Lenin, noting the political aspect of war, almost matching Clausewitz's maxim about war being the continuation of policy by other means. However, Lenin amplified the political struggle/nature of war, especially how it fit in the class/economic struggle. Other Soviet/Russian theorists offered their contributions. A key theme that eventually emerged out of those writings and the present day is that Russia does not view war as simply armed engagement. The contests in the information realm, cyber and propaganda are as much a weapon for Russia as their subs and nuclear triad.

The idea of subversion and using information/disinformation to weaken an adversary from within is a recent act of the Russian military but not a recent theory. Officers on the Tzarist (White) side of the Russian Civil War offered their insights that influenced Reds and Russians decades after the fact. For Russia, they feel that they are in a state of political conflict/war with the US and the West, and while they are necessarily shooting weapons, they are using political and informational means to attack their adversaries to advance their aims and defend against perceived threats.

Theories are always open to intrepretation and challenge, and this work is no exception. It seems to discount older aspects of Russian history and thought that have significant influence on the present day, but what analysis and insight Lacey provides is based on good information and logic. It is a good starting point for analysis of the Russian problem set. The reader is solid, especially with something as dry as doctrine. Worth it for a Russian scholar or one who wants some insight into Russian political/military aims.

[Dennis Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Russian Understanding of War: Blurring the Lines between War and Peace by Oscar Jonsson is really rather good. It is an examination of the evolving perspectives that Russian strategic and political thinkers have regarding the nature of war. I was pleasantly surprised by how utterly and nakedly Clausewitzean the early leadership of the Soviet Union was, and how the discourse in Russia was at the same time both different and strikingly familiar. The emerging model of understanding is one where war's focus on violence is gradually expanded to include non-violent aspects to war. Not violence and information, but violence or information. Information warfare, a key component of the text, is put in military terms. Though people may not die from narrative control, media is as much a weapon as any gun or missile is, and sometimes more effective. The culmination of the book is a chapter focusing on color revolutions, which is put through the lens of relentless conspiracism on the part of Russian elite to believe that democracy, free press, local advocacy groups, and other hallmarks of a modern, liberal society are tools and weapons for Russia's adversaries to subvert, demoralize, and destabilize the Russian state.

Overall, its really rather quite good. I'm unsure how far to trust the thesis, but as far as texts go, this is well worth your time if you are a student of modern warfare and geopolitics.

[Alex Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book for the casual reader but I would call it an indespensible book for anyone interested in national security studies. The author builds a strong case for his views on the evolution of Russian security thought by quoting from major thinkers in their own words. Like any good theory, it explains observable phenomena in the world with such accuracy that at the end this reader's response is "Oh, it was there the whole time."

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not five stars for the general public, but if you are a military planner or Army strategist this is a must read. Traces the history of Soviet to Russian military doctrine as the concept of war evolves from kinetic violent action in the physical domain to include the informational and cognitive domains which signals the beginning of perpetual conflict. Very interesting and packed to be easily digested.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book, but it hasn't aged well. A casual reader could read the Introduction and Conclusion (this works surprisingly well for a lot of dense non-fiction books) and get the gist of it.

TL;DR: Russia views war as a continuous, blurry process rather than a cut-and-dry one. It views the Color Revolutions - the revolutions in Georgia, Ukraine (Euromaidan), and Kyrgyzstan as being instigated by Western-funded and influenced NGOs and, to a lesser extent, states. This is in concert with noting that conventional military techniques - massed armies with battles - have been of a more limited use since the Gulf War of 1991. This idea was galvanized by Russia losing the First Chechen War, in part due to losing primacy around the means of influencing how the war was seen around the world. Consequentially it has undertaken a more risky re-envisioning of Military Science based around information technology and control.

February 24, 2022 has not done a very good job of supporting the author's theory, which has been noted by a meaningful lack of concern about information control and a use of conventional military forces.

But I still think the book is good and it's certainly made me think. I just wouldn't hold it to be the end-all-be-all answer to the question.

[Austin Barselau · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Russian Understanding of War” is an Illuminating treatise on the evolving Russian conception of warfare. In recent years, war in Russian circles has broadened beyond threats of “armed force” to veiled non-military subversion including color revolutions in former Soviet countries and information-psychological warfare amplified by social media, which Russia asserts is instigated by the West. According to the author, this “controlled chaos,” as Putin has described it, has “blurred the bounds of war and peace,” increased Russian appetite for risk-taking, and has led directly to armed conflict and even nuclear provocation as seen in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Jonsson’s work is an essential read to understand Russia’s contemporary preemptive geopolitical calculus to thwart perceived Western aggression.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and a compelling argument. The only problem is that the author seems to take public statements made by Russian leaders at face value. This is problematic, at least for understanding how Russian decision makers view war and conflict, because they’re chronic liars.

[Nick Quenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great length, breath, and application. Frames how history and outside interactions shaped Russia's view of the world. References military publications and public policy instead of drawing conclusions. Definitely deserves to be on the CNO/Commandant's reading list

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I’ve read on how Russia sees the future of warfare - 100% in the information space, which is seen (in their eyes) as just effective as kinetic action.

[Peter G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highlights Russian doctrinal understanding of manipulation and wraponizatiin of information in conjunction with armed conflict or war

[Jaanika Merilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book if you want to really deep-dive into the different Russian schools of the definition of war (and I do, professional cretinism).

[Rob Howes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The information and points raised in the book are excellent. it just could be written in a more cohesive and entertaining manner. Americans, Brits & Germans especially need to read this book.