The New Cold War: Putin's Russia and the Threat to the West

Poorly written and lacking a balanced approach to a complex issue. Typical of Edward Lucas, he has little understanding of the cultural differences between Russia and the West and he lacks the necessary intellectual insight to bridge that gap. He sensationalizes for dramatic effect (e.g.: "Russia's vengeful, xenophobic and ruthless rulers have turned the sick man of Europe into a menacing bully."). Give me a break! Not worth the paper its printed on.

A comprehensive analysis of how Russia has changed under President Putin and how much of the freedom and openess granted during the 1990's has been taken back. The majority of the Russian people currently seem to be happy about this and are more comfortable under a strong authoritarian leadership. The contrast with Russia's loss of stature in the world during the late 1980's and the 1990's has been reversed. Partly because of state control of resources and the significant rise in oil prices Putin has helped Russia move from its status as a bankrupt, defaulting country in 1998 to a world power again. Many elements of change resemble policies that were prevalent during the Soviet period, however, there are significant differences as well.The author is well aquainted with the Russian situation and has captured much of what has taken place in the Putin years and how Russia has reemerged as a world power and is currently challenging the West, including America, economically as well as politically and militarily.

Edward Lucas is one of the most well-informed---if not the single best- informed--- Westerners on Russia and its role in international politics. At the same time, he has the ability to write with the greatest clarity about all the dreadfully dangerous actions Mr. Putin has taken since seizing power. Everyone who seeks to understand the true nature of the Russian threat to the world simply must buy and read this brilliant book. Written with the crisp brilliance expected of him by Edward Lucas' longtime readers, his newest readers will understand why he is so admired, so trusted and so unfailingly correct in his conclusions. While subtler than Stalin (not a high standard), Putin is obviously a grotesquely evil, amoral and kleptomaniacal national leader whose every move belongs under Edward Lucas' brilliant scrutiny. If you fail to buy and read this book, you will be a lesser citizen of the world for your inaction. This is one of the absolute MUST READ books in print.

The book provides a trenchant analysis of Russia's identity crises in the past two decades. The quests for that identity are still continuing and becoming increasingly dangerous for Russia's near and far neighbors. Edward Lucas argues, that the Kremlin has been unable to define its ideology after the end of the Cold War, and instead has filled up ideological vacuum in Russia with anti-Westernism. Russian leaders seek to win hearts and minds of people inside, and even outside Russia, by throwing down a gage to Western values, disputing their very existence. The book proves their attempt has so far been partly successful, as far as foreign businesses dealing with Russia are concerned.

Readers will be caught up by Lucas' talent to juggle with historical facts, figures and web sources to prove his statements, no matter whether that is the total annual amount of bribes paid in Russia ($ 240 billion) or the assessment of Putin's German language skills (passable). His aptitude to bring those into play is at least as efficient as the Russian president's answers in his annual tele-press conferences.

The author's word of warning for Western business and political leaders is not to be complacent and talk airily about "a strategic partnership" with Russia at the time, when the idea, that peoples of the Eastern Europe might genuinely wish to be in alliance with worlds free countries is dismissed as sentimental nonsense. Every Russian investment, as discussed in the chapter seven, is politically loaded expression of foreign policy made by Kremlin Inc., but energy dialogue between Russia and the West "resembles a battle-hardened chess grand master playing against a bunch of inattentive and squabbling amateurs". Instead talking about non-existing partnership he advises Western leaders to take a strategic pause, which would send to Russian politicians a powerful signal, making it obvious, that their thinking doesn't lead to a new civilization but a dead end.

Russia has always been a mystery that resulted in books being written about the country from the Marquis de Custine's 1839 Journey Through Eternal Russia onwards.
During the First Cold War, it became traditional for the Moscow correspondents of the big papers to write their big 'explain the USSR' book on completion of their tour of duty or following their expulsion.
Edward Lucas' book is a grand continuation of the tradition. It is a superb political history of Russia's muddy waters and murky eddies as yet again the country turns its back on European/Western norms and takes its exceptionalist route to fresh disasters.
Lucid and clear (as one would expect from a writer for the Economist), it presents in a short volume all one needs to know about Russia today and the course it is taking. As one often finds with really good books, this is a great read for both the specialist, who will find fresh angles on things he already knows about and enjoy the pithiness with which everything is put, and also the for the intelligent person wishing to take up a new subject, as he will find brief yet comprehensive coverage.
In addition, this excellent book should be compulsory reading for every Western politician whether they have to deal with Russia themselves or not. Lucas is right - a new cold war is upon us. The argumented proof is in the book. We need to be ready for it: reading this book will be a good start.