Jeffrey Mankoff Livres

How the collapse of empires helps explain the efforts of China, Iran, Russia, and Turkey to challenge the international order

This thoughtful and balanced text examines the development of Russian foreign policy since the end of the Cold War. Jeffrey Mankoff argues that Russia's more assertive behavior since Vladimir Putin became president in 2000 has resulted from both a deep-seated consensus among its elite about Russia's identity and interests as well as a favorable convergence of events-including the persistence of high energy prices and the check on U.S. power resulting from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Because these factors are the result of long-term trends, the author argues that there is little reason to expect that the election of Dmitry Medvedev will fundamentally alter Russian foreign policy behavior.Presenting an evenhanded treatment of controversial issues, Mankoff analyzes Russia's interactions with major global actors, including the United States, the European Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and China. Despite Moscow's often-harsh rhetoric and the deployment of Russian forces against Georgia in 2008, the author convincingly demonstrates that there is little reason to fear a return to a Cold War-like standoff with the West. Instead, he argues, today's Russia is more interested in restoring what its leaders consider to be its rightful place among the world's major powers rather than in directly challenging the West. Thoroughly researched and knowledgeable, this book will be invaluable for all students of Russia.

Situated astride one of the world's key strategic crossroads, the "Big Caucasus" is increasingly a region in flux. In this report, Jeffrey Mankoff has masterfully analyzed the complex and myriad centrifugal and centripetal forces that drive this region simultaneously toward fragmentation and integration. A central premise of Mankoff's analysis is that both U.S. and Russian influence have declined relatively and that viewing regional developments principally through a lens of Russian-American competition obscures rather than illuminates regional dynamics and results in suboptimal policies. In his conclusion, Mankoff emphasizes that Washington's capacity to resolve existing conflicts depends to a great extent on accentuating the U.S. role as an honest broker rather than a party to one side or the other, notwithstanding the significant domestic political constraints on U.S. policymakers in this regard. At the end of the day, the onus is on political decisions taken by elites in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and various disputed regions who have the most leverage and responsibility for a more decisive direction for the Big Caucasus toward deeper fragmentation or integration.

The narrative explores the complexities of the war in Afghanistan, focusing on the experiences of soldiers and civilians amidst the conflict. It delves into the emotional and psychological toll of warfare, highlighting themes of sacrifice, resilience, and the impact of military decisions on everyday lives. Through personal stories and broader socio-political analysis, the book sheds light on the challenges faced by those involved in the war and the intricate dynamics of international relations in a tumultuous region.

Georgia in a Reconnecting Eurasia examines the full scope of Georgian national interests in the wider Eurasian region and analyzes the broad outlines of Georgian engagement over the coming years.