Dealing with the Russians

Andrew Monaghan is Director of Research on Russia and Northern European Defence and Security, The Changing Character of War Centre, Pembroke College, University of Oxford.

“A brilliant and hugely enjoyable book. Cogent, well researched and cleverly argued, Monaghan’s illuminating analysis serves as a timely reminder of the dangers of misunderstanding Russia and an “antidote” to Russian stereotypes that prevail in the West.”Nazrin Mehdiyeva, St Antony's College, Oxford‘An aggressive, revanchist Russia and the return of great-power competition make this book required reading. Monaghan’s extensive knowledge of Russian history, politics, language and culture gives him insights that are crucial to understanding Russia and finding a way back to some sort of normal relationship between Russia and the West.’Lieutenant General (Retired) Ben Hodges, Center for European Policy Analysis‘Dealing with the Russians provides a fresh, informed and rational approach to solving the problems that arise when nations attempt to deal strategically with the Russian Federation. It will be essential reading for those who prefer to master history rather than fall victim to it.’David M. Glantz, Carlisle, PA‘Refreshingly concise. Andrew Monaghan takes a wider approach, analysing Russia’s strengths and weaknesses, its self-image, its perceptions and misperceptions of us, ditto ours of it.’  The Spectator "Excellent"IRRUSSIANALITY‘insightful and disturbing’Times Literary Supplement"Dealing with the Russians presents a detailed and ground-breaking analysis of the current state of Euro-Atlantic interaction with Russia and provides convincing arguments for the need to restructure it."Europe-Asia Studies"Dealing with the Russians is a captivating narration of critical events that have shaped the Russia‐Western relationship in recent years."Journal of Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society

• Preface and Acknowledgements The ‘Decline of the West’ – and the Emergence of a Russian ChallengeAcknowledgementsNotes1: The PredicamentRussia's Emergence as a Peer ChallengerThe Dual DilemmaThe Book's ArgumentNotes2: (Mis)interpreting the Russian ThreatReturning to Cold War Relations?The Abstraction of the Russian ThreatRecalibrating the Russian Threat and the Need to Refresh ThinkingNotes3: From Dialogue to Deterrence‘Not Back to Business as Usual’The Shift to DeterrenceDeterrence or Reassurance?What is Deterrence?The Challenges of Dialogue and DeterrenceNotes4: Dealing with the Russians: Pillars of a Twenty-First-Century StrategyFrom the ‘New Cold War’ Trap to Strategy-Making in a Post-Iraq War WorldThe Need for Grand Strategy for the New EraTowards a Strategy?The Fifth Pillar: Challenging GroupthinkThe Sixth Pillar: Russia in the Wider and Longer-Term ContextNotesIndex