Lilia Shevtsova

Det påstås att ungefär 14 500 krig har utkämpats sedan år 3 500 f. Kr. Mänskligheten har bara erfarit 300 år av fred på jorden. Under 1900-talet dödades fler människor i krig än något tidigare sekel. Relativt sett dödar vi dock varandra mer sällan. Håller vi gradvis på att bli mer fredliga? Oavsett hur många som dödas, och med vilken metod, kan vi vara säkra på att krig kommer att fortsätta utkämpas. Ligger orsakerna till krig i samhället eller i biologin, i tävlan om ekonomiska resurser eller sexuella, i historiska omständigheter eller i en universell våldsinstinkt? Allt sedan antiken fram till dagens terrorism har krig varit förstörare och skapare av stater och civilisationer. Essäerna i denna antologi har sitt ursprung i det internationellt välrenommerade Engelsbergsseminariet 2015 och är skrivna av historiker, journalister, tänkare, forskare och författare från hela världen. Huvudredaktörer är Kurt Almqvist och Alexander Linklater.

Adapted from the Russian edition, this book analyzes the dominant stereotypes and myths that formed during the Putin presidency and that continue to hamper our understanding of Russia's current situation. Author Lilia Shevtsova explains the origins of such political clichés as:Russia is not mature enough for democracy;Capitalism first, and democracy will follow;The humiliation of Russia by the West is the key cause of their soured relationship;Arms talks between Russia and the United States will help to reset the relationship. Shevtsova argues that an anti-mythology campaign is needed to deepen the understanding of Russia both within the Russian Federation and in the West, as well as to help nations build better policies toward Russia. Praise for Lilia Shevtsova's Russia —Lost in Transition "An excellent volume... highly recommended." —Choice

Russian history is first and foremost a history of personalized power. As Russia startles the international community with its assertiveness and faces both parliamentary and presidential elections, Lilia Shevtsova searches the histories of the Yeltsin and Putin regimes. She explores within them conventional truths and myths about Russia, paradoxes of Russian political development, and Russia's role in the world. Russia —Lost in Transition discovers a logic of government in Russia —a political regime and the type of capitalism that were formulated during the Yeltsin and Putin presidencies and will continue to dominate Russia's trajectory in the near term. Looking forward as well as back, Shevtsova speculates about the upcoming elections as well as the self-perpetuating system in place —the legacies of Yeltsin and Putin —and how it will dictate the immediate political future. She also explores several scenarios for Russia's future over the next decade.

The Putin and Bush presidencies, the 9/11 attack, and the war in Iraq have changed the dynamics of Russian-European-US relations and strained the Western alliance. Featuring contributions by leading experts in the field, this work is the first systematic effort to reassess the status of Russia's modernization efforts in this context. Part I examines political, economic, legal, and cultural developments in Russia for evidence of convergence with Western norms. In Part II, the contributors systematically analyze Russia's relations with the European Union, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the United States in light of new security concerns and changing economic and power relationships.

The Putin and Bush presidencies, the 9/11 attack, and the war in Iraq have changed the dynamics of Russian-European-US relations and strained the Western alliance. Featuring contributions by leading experts in the field, this work is the first systematic effort to reassess the status of Russia's modernization efforts in this context. Part I examines political, economic, legal, and cultural developments in Russia for evidence of convergence with Western norms. In Part II, the contributors systematically analyze Russia's relations with the European Union, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the United States in light of new security concerns and changing economic and power relationships.

This text presents a comprehensive account of the achievements and failures of Boris Yeltsin's Russia. Combining political analysis with the perspective of a native observer, this book offers an introduction to the new leaders who will shape the post-Yeltsin era.