Maria Kuznetsova’s book, "Russia Reimagined," details Russia's geopolitical evolution from the Soviet collapse to the present day, covering economic turmoil, political consolidation under Putin, relations with the West, and Russia's evolving domestic and foreign policies. Key Takeaways The Soviet collapse left Russia facing immediate challenges including economic disintegration, social unrest, and ethnic tensions. The leadership transition from Gorbachev to Yeltsin marked a pivotal shift towards market economics and democratization, though this transition was turbulent. Putin's rise in centralized power, leading to political consolidation and a managed democracy, is often criticized for its authoritarian aspects. Russia's relationship with the West is characterized by tensions stemming from NATO expansion, conflicts in Georgia and Ukraine, and information warfare. Economic sanctions against Russia have had significant macroeconomic and sectoral impacts, leading to policy adjustments and countermeasures. Russia's energy sector is crucial to its economic stability and geopolitical leverage. The book concludes by reflecting on three decades of Russia's geopolitical evolution and offering predictions for its future path in a multipolar world. Contributions of the Book - Geopolitical Influence and Strategies: The book delves into Russia's geopolitical strategies, particularly focusing on its influence in regions like the South Caucasus and Central Asia. It highlights the historical associations and ongoing tensions in areas such as Nagorno-Karabakh, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, emphasizing the need to thoroughly examine Russia's influence and interrelations in these critical areas. - Economic and Energy Partnerships: The book discusses the economic collaborations between Russia and European nations, which include trade, investment, and technological exchanges. These partnerships have facilitated mutual economic growth and technology transfers, although they have also faced challenges such as regulations, sanctions, and trade disputes. - Cultural Influence and Soft Power: The book explores Russia's use of cultural influence and soft power as part of its geopolitical strategies. This includes disseminating ideas and cultural exchanges, which influence Russia's broader global influence. - Unintended Outcomes and Challenges: The book addresses the unintended outcomes of Russia's geopolitical actions, such as the complexities and challenges that arise from its interventions and alliances. These outcomes highlight the intricate nature of international relations and the potential for unforeseen consequences. - Future Projections and Resolutions: The book proposes potential resolutions for geopolitical conflicts, such as deploying a United Nations peacekeeping mission and using international legal mechanisms for arbitration. These suggestions aim to foster stability and uphold international law in disputed territories. - Transformation and Challenges in Russia: The book examines Russia’s internal transformations and challenges, including economic and political shifts. It provides insights into the country's domestic changes and their implications for its international strategies. These contributions collectively offer a comprehensive analysis of Russia's geopolitical strategies, economic collaborations, cultural influence, and the challenges it faces both domestically and internationally. A Must Read.

Maria Kuznetsova's book, "Russia Reimagined," details Russia's geopolitical evolution from the Soviet collapse to the present day, covering economic turmoil, political consolidation under Putin, relations with the West, and Russia's evolving domestic and foreign policies. Contributions of the Book - Geopolitical Influence and Strategies: The book delves into Russia's geopolitical strategies, particularly focusing on its influence in regions like the South Caucasus and Central Asia. It highlights the historical associations and ongoing tensions in areas such as Nagorno-Karabakh, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, emphasizing the need to thoroughly examine Russia's influence and interrelations in these critical areas. - Economic and Energy Partnerships: The book discusses the economic collaborations between Russia and European nations, which include trade, investment, and technological exchanges. These partnerships have facilitated mutual economic growth and technology transfers, although they have also faced challenges such as regulations, sanctions, and trade disputes. - Cultural Influence and Soft Power: The book explores Russia's use of cultural influence and soft power as part of its geopolitical strategies. This includes disseminating ideas and cultural exchanges, which influence Russia's broader global influence. - Unintended Outcomes and Challenges: The book addresses the unintended outcomes of Russia's geopolitical actions, such as the complexities and challenges that arise from its interventions and alliances. These outcomes highlight the intricate nature of international relations and the potential for unforeseen consequences. - Future Projections and Resolutions: The book proposes potential resolutions for geopolitical conflicts, such as deploying a United Nations peacekeeping mission and using international legal mechanisms for arbitration. These suggestions aim to foster stability and uphold international law in disputed territories. - Transformation and Challenges in Russia: The book examines Russia's internal transformations and challenges, including economic and political shifts. It provides insights into the country's domestic changes and their implications for its international strategies. These contributions collectively offer a comprehensive analysis of Russia's geopolitical strategies, economic collaborations, cultural influence, and the domestic and international challenges it faces. A Must Read.

"The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic marks the most significant, singular global disruption since World War II, with health, economic, political, and security implications that will ripple for years to come." -Global Trends 2040 (2021) Global Trends 2040-A More Contested World (2021), released by the US National Intelligence Council, is the latest report in its series of reports starting in 1997 about megatrends and the world's future. This report, strongly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, paints a bleak picture of the future and describes a contested, fragmented and turbulent world. It specifically discusses the four main trends that will shape tomorrow's world: - Demographics-by 2040, 1.4 billion people will be added mostly in Africa and South Asia. - Economics-increased government debt and concentrated economic power will escalate problems for the poor and middleclass. - Climate-a hotter world will increase water, food, and health insecurity. - Technology-the emergence of new technologies could both solve and cause problems for human life. Students of trends, policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, journalists and anyone eager for a glimpse into the next decades, will find this report, with colored graphs, essential reading.

Introduction: the guns of August -- Contours of Russian foreign policy -- Bulldogs fighting under the rug: the making of Russian foreign policy -- Resetting expectations: Russia and the United States -- Europe: between integration and confrontation -- Rising China and Russia's Asian vector -- Playing with home field advantage? Russia and its post-Soviet neighbors -- Conclusion: dealing with Russia's foreign policy reawakening.

Traces the history of the Marshall Plan and the efforts to reconstruct western Europe as a bulwark against communist authoritarianism during a two-year period that saw the collapse of postwar U.S.-Soviet relations and the beginning of the Cold War.

Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, there has been much talk of a new Cold War between the West and Russia. Under Putin’s authoritarian leadership, Moscow is widely seen as volatile, belligerent and bent on using military force to get its way. In this incisive analysis, top Russian foreign and security policy analyst Dmitri Trenin explains why the Cold War analogy is misleading. Relations between the West and Russia are certainly bad and dangerous but - he argues - they are bad and dangerous in new ways; crucial differences which make the current rivalry between Russia, the EU and the US all the more fluid and unpredictable. Unpacking the dynamics of this increasingly strained relationship, Trenin makes a compelling case for handling Russia with pragmatism and care rather than simply giving into fear.

Hegemony and World Order explores a key question for our tumultuous times of multiple global crises. Does hegemony – that is, legitimated rule by dominant power – have a role in ordering world politics of the twenty-first century? If so, what form does that hegemony take: does it lie with a leading state or with some other force? How does contemporary world hegemony operate: what tools does it use and what outcomes does it bring? This volume addresses these questions by assembling perspectives from various regions across the world, including Canada, Central Asia, China, Europe, India, Russia and the USA. The contributions in this book span diverse theoretical perspectives from realism to postcolonialism, as well as multiple issue areas such as finance, the Internet, migration and warfare. By exploring the role of non-state actors, transnational networks, and norms, this collection covers various standpoints and moves beyond traditional concepts of state-based hierarches centred on material power. The result is a wealth of novel insights on today's changing dynamics of world politics. Hegemony and World Order is critical reading for policymakers and advanced students of International Relations, Global Governance, Development, and International Political Economy.