Like its predecessor, Eternal Putin?: Confronting Navalny, the Pandemic, Sanctions, and War with Ukraine (Lexington, 2023), Vladimir Putin’s Version of ‘War and Peace’: The Battle for the Russian Home Front, 2022-24 is a chronological and descriptive account of almost all facets of Russian life during a very short period of time; i.e. from the onset of Russia’s war on Ukraine in February 2022 to its presidential election in March 2024. Its strength lies in its wealth of detail on Russia’s home front. To set the stage, the first chapters cover the course of war primarily focused on the consequences of the war for Russians at home. The ripple effects follow in chapters on Russia’s politics, its economy, human and civil rights, and the Kremlin’s international relationships. Among the subjects featured in sub-sections are the ‘foreign agent’ frenzy, pressure against the LGBT community, schools as incubators of young ‘patriots’, healthcare, the environment, the media, Russia’s new diaspora in exile, the Russian Orthodox Church’s role, war crimes, and international sport. Putin as vozhd (leader) is the subject of one chapter. Russia’s forced and chosen pivot to the East for political and economic allies are also examined. Above all, this book highlights the Russian government’s attempts to create a loyal citizenry. Nowhere else is the battle for the home front covered so thoroughly.
