Putin's Wars - 3rd Edition by Marcel H Van Herpen (Paperback)

About the Book

Putin's Wars provides an analysis of Russia's relations with its near neighbors. Its contemporary analysis is enriched by the historical case studies the author brings in to bolster his arguments about Russia's current expansionist aggression. Updated chapter on Ukraine to cover the ongoing war.

Book Synopsis

The third edition of this acclaimed book offers a systematic analysis of Putin's three wars, placing the Second Chechen War, the war with Georgia of 2008, and the current war with Ukraine in their broader historical context. Drawing on extensive original Russian sources, Marcel H. Van Herpen analyzes in detail how Putin's wars have been prepared and conducted, and why they have led to allegations of war crimes and genocide. He shows how the conflicts have attempted to consolidate and legitimate Putin's regime and explores how they are connected to a fourth, hidden, "internal war" waged by the Kremlin against the opposition. The author convincingly argues that the Kremlin--relying on the secret services, the Orthodox Church, the Kremlin youth "Nashi," and the rehabilitated Cossacks--is preparing for an imperial revival, most recently in the form of a "Eurasian Union."

An essential book for understanding the dynamics of Putin's regime, this study digs deep into the Kremlin's secret long-term strategies. Readable and clearly argued, it makes a compelling case that Putin's regime emulates an established Russian paradigm in which empire building and despotic rule are mutually reinforcing. As the first comprehensive exploration of the historical antecedents and political continuity of the Kremlin's contemporary policies, Van Herpen's work will make a valuable contribution to the literature on post-Soviet Russia, and his arguments will stimulate a fascinating and vigorous debate.

Review Quotes

"Published 10 years after the second edition (CH, Nov'14, 52-1667), the third edition of Putin's Wars brings van Herpen's narrative to August 2023. While the remainder of the book, dealing with topics like Putin's wars in Chechnya and Georgia, has not been revised, the new, final 16-page chapter focuses entirely on issues relating to Putin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Van Herpen not only updates the continuing war in Ukraine but also strengthens his analysis and thesis with extensive new documentation. He argues that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is driven by Putin's determination to unify areas of the former Soviet Union that include large ethnic Russian populations under Moscow's control. Central to this project is the erasure of Ukraine as an independent state. Putin's wars, as manifestations of Moscow's imperialism, are at the core of his determination to restore Russia to its Great Power status. Acknowledging that one cannot predict how the war will end, van Herpen asserts that Ukraine is fighting for its own independence and for Western values. He concludes that the war's outcome will have major consequences for the future of Europe and the world. All libraries should acquire this editionfor its concise, well-documented, and well-argued update of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Summing Up: Recommended. General readers through faculty." --Choice Reviews

"The author analyzes the phenomenon of Russian imperialism, its origins, evolution, ideological foundations, and reciprocal ties with despotic rule in general. Van Herpen gives a detailed account of Putin's revival of imperial doctrine and the related neocolonialist project of reintegrating post-Soviet space under the aegis of the Kremlin. . . . The book concludes with reflections on the Russian leadership's 'obsession' with the 'Ukrainian problem' and its efforts to coerce Ukraine into joining the Eurasian Union by force. . . . The author's logic is impeccable." --East/West: Journal of Ukranian Studies

"In this sobering book, Marcel van Herpen ... reminds us that Russia's actions, unlike those of other former European empires, demonstrate that decolonization is not an irreversible process." --Survival: Global Politics and Strategy

"Many books on Russian government and politics tend to focus on one specific element of the complex autocracy of the Kremlin, while neglecting the context. What separates Van Herpen's work from other similar books is the rigorous holistic approach to the matter. This book is much more than a chronicle of armed conflicts I was originally looking for." --Miroslav Shapovalov, University of Central Florida

About the Author

Marcel H. Van Herpen is director of the Cicero Foundation, Maastricht. His personal website is http: //www.marcelhvanherpen.com.