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The motivation for this book is the need for a renewed analysis of Russia, which, after a period of relative weakness and instability during most ofthe 1990s, has again reappeared in world politics as a major securityplayer, claiming the status of a great power. This is partly due to the factthat, with the advent of Vladimir Putin as president, Russia gainedincreased political stability, and partly because the Russian economystarted to show steady growth. Russia made skilful use of the policywindows of opportunity that were opened to it as a consequence of theterrorist attacks in the United Sta.

Författaren tar oss med på en vandring från Kyjivs grundande på 400-talet till det moderna Ukrainas självständighet, över revolutioner och kriser, genom Rysslands aggression 2014 och fram till den fullskaliga invasionen i februari 2022. Han förklarar på ett förtjänstfullt sätt vad som skiljer Ukraina från Ryssland och hur ukrainarna, trots så mycket mindre befolkning och militära och ekonomiska resurser, har klarat att stå emot den ryska aggressionen på ett sätt som väckt omvärldens både beundran och sympati
The author takes us on a journey from the founding of Kyiv in the 5th century to the independence of modern Ukraine, through revolutions and crises, Russia's aggression in 2014, and up to the full-scale invasion in February 2022. He explains in a meritorious way what distinguishes Ukraine from Russia and how the Ukrainians, despite a much smaller population and fewer military and economic resources, have managed to resist the Russian aggression in a way that has aroused both the admiration and sympathy of the outside world.

Abstract: Russia's operationalization of a sphere of interest in the South CaucasusA central foreign policy objective of Russia is to maintain an exclusive sphere of interest in its post-Soviet neighbourhood. This article analyses how Russia employs a combination of political and military instruments in operationalizing its perceived sphere of interest in the still conflict-ridden South Caucasus. Russia is the only external power in the region to have military bases there, and is the only one seemingly ready to undertake military action. At present, Russia appears satisfied with the status quo in the South Caucasus. The unresolved conflicts in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh are therefore unlikely to be resolved in the near future. Unresolved conflicts suit Russia's objectives. Russian military bases in Georgia and Armenia provide Moscow with both a key lever against Tbilisi and Yerevan and a structural advantage for potential Russian military operations in the region. Russia's military posture in the Caucasus is relevant to the potential for large-scale conflict in the Southern war theatre, including the wider Middle East, and not just local conflicts in the Caucasus.