Stephen J. Blank Livres

It is obvious that U.S.-Russian relations and East-West relations more broadly have recently deteriorated. Yet analyses of why this is the case have often been confined to American policy. The author examines some of the key strategic issues at stake in this relationship and traces that decline to Russian factors which have been overlooked or neglected. At the same time, he has devoted considerable time to recording some of the shortcomings of U.S. policy and recommending a way out of the growing impasse confronting both sides.

Five specialists examine the historical relationship of culture and conflict in various regional societies. The authors use Adda B. Bozeman's theories on conflict and culture as the basis for their analyses of the causes, nature, and conduct of war and conflict in the Soviet Union, the Middle East, Sinic Asia (China, Japan, and Vietnam), Latin America, and Africa. Drs. Blank, Lawrence Grinter, Karl P. Magyar, Lewis B. Ware, and Bynum E. Weathers conclude that non-Western cultures and societies do not reject war but look at violence and conflict as a normal and legitimate aspect of sociopolitical behavior.

NATO's enlargement has brought it to the borders of the Baltic states who covet membership in NATO. However, admitting them into NATO is one of the most difficult problems for the Alliance because of Russia's unconditional opposition to such action and because of NATO's own internal divisions on this issue. Nonetheless, a new regime or system of security for the entire Baltic region must now be on the U.S. and European agenda. The key players in such a process are Russia, Germany, and the United States. Their actions will determine the limits of the possible in constructing Baltic security for the foreseeable future. Dr. Stephen Blank presents a detailed and extensive analysis of these three governments' views on Baltic and European security. Their views on regional security are materially shaped by and influence their larger views on their mutual relations and policy towards Europe. Their views also demonstrate the complexity of the issues involved in constructing Baltic, not to mention European, security. But because NATO enlargement is the most serious foreign policy and defense issue before Congress now, such an analysis can illuminate much of what is happening in the NATO enlargement process and why it has taken its current shape.

The book delves into the geopolitical tensions in the Arctic, particularly focusing on Russia's assertive territorial claims since 2007, driven by climate change and energy resources. It examines how these aggressive strategies aim to influence other Arctic nations, such as Norway, while highlighting the ongoing military and security implications of these actions. Through a collection of essays from a 2010 conference, it provides a comprehensive analysis of the competition for influence and rights in the region, emphasizing the complexities of international relations surrounding Arctic exploration and exploitation.

Focusing on operational and strategic lessons from the Afghan war, this study highlights significant insights relevant to both military conflicts and Soviet military developments of the 1980s and 1990s. It emphasizes the need for reforms to maintain democratic civilian control over the military and warns analysts about the ongoing nature of local wars in the Third World. By examining this unique conflict, the book reveals important implications for understanding contemporary and future warfare, encouraging readers to grasp its deeper meanings.

Culturally significant, this work preserves the authenticity of the original artifact, featuring original copyright references and library stamps. It serves as an important contribution to the knowledge base of civilization, reflecting the historical context in which it was created. The reproduction aims to maintain fidelity to the original, offering readers a glimpse into the past through its preserved notations and markings.

In one way or another, the papers included in this monograph, from the Strategic Studies Institute's annual conference on Russia in May 2012, all point to the internal pathologies that render Russian security a precarious affair at the best of times. As the editor suggests, the very fact of this precariousness makes Russia an inherently unpredictable and even potentially dangerous actor, not necessarily because it will actively attack its neighbors, though we certainly cannot exclude that possibility, but rather because Russia may come apart trying to play the role of a great power in Eurasia or elsewhere. As we all know, that outcome happened in 1917 and in 1989-91, with profound implications for international security and U.S. interests.