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Russia and Ukraine

Entangled Histories, Diverging States
4.45 goodreads logo

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( 44 ratings, 7 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States, Maria Popova and Oxana Shevel explore the origins of the 2022 conflict, detailing how Ukraine’s pursuit of democracy and European integration clashed with Russia’s retreat into authoritarianism and imperialism. The authors argue that the war stems from Russia’s refusal to accept an independent Ukrainian state and its effort to reassert control, rather than merely geopolitical tensions over NATO expansion.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers interested in international relations, Eastern European politics, and contemporary history, as well as students and scholars seeking a thorough, expert account of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In February 2022, Russian missiles rained on Ukrainian cities, and tanks rolled towards Kyiv to end Ukrainian independent statehood. President Zelensky declined a Western evacuation offer and Ukrainians rallied to defend their country. What are the roots of this war, which has upended the international legal order and brought back the spectre of nuclear escalation? How did these supposedly β€œbrotherly peoples” become each other’s worst nightmare?

In Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States, Maria Popova and Oxana Shevel explain how, since 1991, Russia and Ukraine diverged politically, ending up on a collision course. Russia slid back into authoritarianism and imperialism, while Ukraine consolidated a competitive political system and pro-European identity.

As Ukraine built a democratic nation-state, Russia refused to accept it and came to see it as an β€œanti-Russia” project. After political and economic pressure proved ineffective, and even counterproductive, Putin went to war to force Ukraine back into the fold of the β€œRussian world.” Ukraine resisted, determined to pursue European integration as a sovereign state. These irreconcilable goals, rather than geopolitical wrangling between Russia and the West over NATO expansion, areβ€”the authors argueβ€”essential to understanding Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised by experts like Michael McFaul and Serhii Plokhy, this book stands out for its depth and nuanced analysis. McFaul calls it the definitive account on the conflict, while Plokhy recommends it as essential reading for understanding the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II. The authors’ balanced approach makes it a vital resource for comprehending the war’s complex historical and political roots.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781509557370

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 24 November 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Polity Press

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 226.0mm

Weight: 431g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Maria Popova is Associate Professor of Political Science at McGill University.

Oxana Shevel is Associate Professor of Political Science at Tufts University.

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