Mark Galeotti, a leading expert on modern Russia and author of the insightful book 'Putin’s Wars,' discusses how Vladimir Putin's conflicts have reshaped the country. Galeotti highlights the evolution of Putin's military strategies, from Chechnya to Syria, and how these actions reflect his ideology of defending Russia's dignity. He also delves into the annexation of Crimea and the miscalculations that sparked further tensions in Ukraine, ultimately revealing the unpredictable nature of geopolitical decisions in today's world.
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Decay of the Russian Military
In the 1990s, Russian Spetsnaz soldiers moonlighted as mafia hitmen due to unpaid salaries.
They even used their training facilities to train would-be hitmen, highlighting the military's decay.
insights INSIGHT
Russia's Dignity
Putin's emphasis on defending Russia's dignity is central to his worldview.
He sees Russia as a great power by birthright, a status he believes the West ignores and tries to deny.
insights INSIGHT
War as a Tool of Power
Putin learned from the Second Chechen War that military force is key to great power status.
This cemented his belief that military capability is more important than soft power or economic influence.
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Dancing on Bones, History and Power in China, Russia, and North Korea
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Katie Stallard
The Vory
Mark Galeotti
Mark Galeotti's 'The Vory' provides an in-depth look at the history of organized crime in Russia, tracing the evolution of the vory from their origins in the gulags to their modern-day influence in Russia's oligarchy and global underworld. The book explores how these criminals have adapted to changing political landscapes, from Stalinism to post-Soviet Russia.
Putin's Wars
From Chechnya to Ukraine
Mark Galeotti
This book provides a detailed overview of the conflicts Russia has been involved in since Vladimir Putin became president. It covers the First and Second Chechen Wars, the military incursion into Georgia, the annexation of Crimea, and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Mark Galeotti, a leading expert on modern Russia, offers insights into the inner workings of the Kremlin and the evolution of the Russian military. The book also discusses the broader strategic context and the impact of these conflicts on Russia's military reforms and international standing. Updated to include the aborted coup of June 2023 and the Russian military's struggles in Ukraine, it is a thought-provoking analysis of how Putin's wars have reshaped Russia in the 21st century.
Mark Galeotti is one of the world’s leading experts on modern Russia. His new book, Putin’s Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine, details how Vladimir Putin and his conflicts have shaped Russia in the 21st century. In conversation with the New Statesman’s Katie Stallard, Galeotti shows how Putin has used warfare through incursions into Georgia, Crimea and Ukraine, to influence both Russia’s domestic politics and the geopolitics that play out on the world stage.
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