Description
Product ID: | 9781626167346 |
Product Form: | Paperback / softback |
Country of Manufacture: | GB |
Title: | The Russian Understanding of War |
Subtitle: | Blurring the Lines between War and Peace |
Authors: | Author: Oscar Jonsson |
Page Count: | 208 |
Subjects: | Military and defence strategy, Defence strategy, planning & research, Games development and programming, Games development & programming |
Description: | Select Guide Rating 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. 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 much needed 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, where the old lines between a state of war and a state of peace are blurring. Information warfare and political subversion have become both tools and threats below the traditional threshold of armed violence. Jonsson also finds that Russia has considered itself to be at "war" with the United States and its allies since at least 2014, when the Russians believe the United States engineered a revolution in Ukraine to overthrow pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. 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. |
Imprint Name: | Georgetown University Press |
Publisher Name: | Georgetown University Press |
Country of Publication: | GB |
Publishing Date: | 2019-11-01 |