16. Russia's Military Revival

In this show, Harry discusses the revival and rebuilding of Russia's armed forces with Professor Bettina Renz (University of Nottingham). After the end of the Cold War, during which the Soviet Union had exhausted itself trying to keep pace with American military and technological advancements, the Russian military were left to decay. In the 21st century, however, President Putin set Russia on a course intended to expand and enhance their military capabilities. In this episode, Professor Renz discusses why this military revival took place, what sort of capabilities Russia developed, and how effective it was in modernising their armed forces.

Professor Renz provides some really useful context that helps us understand how Russia has been fighting in the ongoing war in Ukraine*.  Bettina is the ideal person to discuss this subject with. She is a renowned expert on Russian security and defence policy in the post-Cold war era and has published widely on military reforms, civil-military relations, and military operations. Her latest monograph, Russia's Military Revival, was published in 2018. Professor Renz also has an active interest in contemporary war and strategy, and in the role of airpower in modern conflict. 

This is a fantastic way to kick off series two! If you enjoy this episode, do check out the next one (released simultaneously to this) in which Dr Frank Ledwidge gives us some amazing insights into the air war taking place in Ukraine.

*This episode was recorded in November 2022, so any events that have taken place in Ukraine since then will not have been taken into account.