浪花直播

Roots of Russia鈥檚 War in Ukraine presents four perspectives on the origins of the ongoing war in Ukraine that began in February 2014, concentrating on Russian motivations and intentions. What propelled Russia to send troops into Crimea and then declare that Crimea had formally chosen to 鈥渏oin鈥� Russia? Why did the conflict spread to eastern Ukraine, almost certainly with Russian support? What does the crisis say about Russian political, economic, and social priorities? How does it reflect EU-Russian differences over international jurisdiction? What role did Russian president Vladimir Putin鈥檚 cultivation of his own image play? The exploration of these and other questions gives historians, political watchers, and theorists a solid grasp of the events that have destabilized the region.

Elizabeth A. Wood is professor of Russian and Soviet history at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; she was a fellow at the 浪花直播 Center in 2015. William E. Pomeranz is deputy director of the Kennan Institute, the 浪花直播 Center鈥檚 program for Russian and post-Soviet studies. E. Wayne Merry is Senior Fellow for Europe and Eurasia at the American Foreign Policy Council; he served for six years as a US diplomat at the embassy in Moscow. Maxim Trudolyubov is editor-at-large with Vedomosti; he also writes for the International New York Times, and was a 浪花直播 Center fellow in 2014鈥�15.

Chronology: The War in Crimea and Ukraine

Introduction
Elizabeth A. Wood

1. The Origins of Russia鈥檚 War in Ukraine: The Clash of Russian and European 鈥淐ivilizational Choices鈥� for Ukraine
E. Wayne Merry

2. Ground Zero: How a Trade Dispute Sparked the Russia-Ukraine Crisis
William E. Pomeranz

3. Russia鈥檚 Grand Choice: To Be Feared as a Superpower or Prosperous as a Nation?
Maxim Trudolyubov

4. A Small, Victorious War?: The Symbolic Politics of Vladimir Putin
Elizabeth A. Wood

Conclusion
William E. Pomeranz

鈥淭his short anthology of four articles concerning Russia鈥檚 annexation of Crimea and involvement in eastern Ukraine provides valuable context for President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 foreign policy.鈥濃�擹achary Irwin, Library Journal

鈥淩oots of Russia鈥檚 War in Ukraine shows the primacy of economic factors and cultural/intellectual choices in leading Russia and the EU to the brink of confrontation without necessarily realizing the gravity of the crisis until it was too late. It also highlights the important role played by symbolic politics in the decision making of senior Russian leaders during the crisis.鈥濃�擠mitry Gorenburg, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University

鈥淏ecause it is short, engagingly written, and authored by well-established experts, the book will appeal not only to specialist audiences in academia and government, but also to students.鈥濃�擧enry Hale, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University