Synopses & Reviews
The Russian regime under President Vladimir Putin has embarked on a coherent long-term strategy to regain its influence over former satellites and to limit Western penetration in key parts of this region. Moscow is intent on steadily rebuilding Russia as a major power on the Eurasian stage and will use its neighbors as a springboard for expanding its dominance. In this first systematic analysis detailing Russia's post-Cold War imperialism, Bugajski challenges the contemporary equivalent of Cold War appeasement, which views Russia as a benign and pragmatic power that seeks cooperation and integration with the West.
Review
Bugajski provides the first detailed, tightly woven assessment of post-Soviet Russian policy in eastern Europe....Even those who see Russian policy in less black-and-white terms will learn much from this systematic, informed treatment of Russia's relations with every part of this region--from Belarus to Croatia, Estonia to Bulgaria.Foreign Affairs
Review
This important and timely book will be a revelatory shock to most readers. It exposes vividly what has been ignored by most U.S. policy makers, from the White House down: namely, that Russia's policies towards the countries of the former Soviet Bloc are still being influenced by an ominously imperialist nostalgia. I know of no other work which so effectively combines analysis with hitherto unknown and highly sensitive data.Zbigniew Brzezinski
Review
[T]he Stalinist past continues to exercise a hypnotic spell on the men in the Kremlin, and Mr. Bugajski is right to call for vigilance.The Washington Times
Review
Bugajski provides the first detailed, tightly woven assessment of post-Soviet Russian policy in eastern Europe....Even those who see Russian policy in less black-and-white terms will learn much from this systematic, informed treatment of Russia's relations with every part of this region--from Belarus to Croatia, Estonia to Bulgaria.Foreign Affairs
Synopsis
Examines the evidence for Russian expansionism in all parts of Eastern Europe, analyzes Moscow's objectives and strategies, and outlines measures for ensuring the region's commitment to democracy and Western integration.
About the Author
JANUSZ BUGAJSKI is Director of the East European Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He has served as a consultant for both government and private organizations and has lectured at numerous American and European universities. He chairs the South-Central Europe area studies program at the Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State, and is the author or editor of several books on the region.