Status Updates From Eiszeit: Wie Russland dämon...

revelation of authorial purpose in last 20ish pages of book: military descalation, accommodation with Russia, and priviledging of it's perspectives and worries necessary to allow development of civil society in Russia and possible development of a democratic society.
I do feel though the book could be radically rewritten to support that view the reader is dragged through a lot which isn't relevant to her end point.

Because of June 1941 and 1812 "Russische Aengste und Bedrohungsgeefuehle sind also ebenfalls historisch begruendet, berechtigt und plausibel"

well yes, that is true, however it is also true that many countries in the world have histories that feature being repeatedly invaded including many of Russia's neighbours who have been invaded and or annexed sometimes repeatedly by Russia?

In relation to 'western' perceptions of Russian aggression and hostility "Im Grunde zeigt sich hier eine gefaehrliche Unfaehigkeit des Westens, andere Perspektiven als die eigene noch als legitim an zuerkennen."

Mind you that argument cuts both ways does the Russian leadership regard the fears and anxieties of its neighbours as legitimate or even acknowledge them at all?

earlier in the book the author took offence on Russia's behalf for being described by Obama as a regional power, now she says the small number of Russian bases abroad cannot be compared with the 150,000 US soldiers posted abroad and the US's 800 odd bases overseas. This we call having your cake and wanting to eat it too.

"Die Frage, ob Putin's Politik offensiv-expansiv ist oder einer strategischen Defensive entspingt, is daher von grosser Bedeutung"

By this stage of the book Putin's policy, if he has one, looks neither offensive nor defensive, rather reactive and not thought through