Novel insights into Russian military thought—from the Crimean War to the war in Ukraine
The development of the Russian military's strategic thought is an understudied and thus misunderstood subject in the West. Strategy in Russia encompasses the broader context of foreign and domestic policy as well as the military's ties to the country's leadership. The military's strategic thought is closely linked to Russia's existence as a state and explains patterns of Russian confrontation.
In Russian Military Thought, the renowned scholar Gudrun Persson offers novel insights into Russian military thought on doctrine and strategy, from the Crimean War to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Persson dismantles the simplistic notion that Russian military thought is "backward," instead presenting a deeper analysis of the drivers that influence the changes in Russian military strategy. Through archival research based on Russian language sources, Persson offers a multidisciplinary perspective, drawing on theoretical insights from history and political science that enable her to make a nuanced, qualitative analysis.
This book will be essential reading for practitioners, scholars, and students who seek to understand the mind-set of the current Russian leadership and the constraints that shape Russia's future possibilities.
Reviews
"Persson provides an authoritative and systematic analysis of all dimensions of the Russian political and military leadership's thinking about the world. Once you grasp their logic, the continuities are astonishing. This will be the standard work of reference as long as this generation of Russian leaders is in power"—Beatrice Heuser, distinguished professor, Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy, Brussels School of Governance, VUB
"Based on decades of research and expertise, Gudrun Persson's accessible and engaging monograph traces the history of Russian strategic thought within the context of wider political, economic, and international developments. This comprehensive work is essential reading for anybody seeking to gain a systematic understanding of continuity and change in Russian military thinking from the Crimean War until today."—Bettina Renz, professor of international security, University of Nottingham
"This penetrating, excellently sourced, and highly readable book reveals the remarkable continuity in Russia's strategic outlook and military thinking across a sweep of history. As the Russian state deepens its military challenge to European states, the need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of Russia's way of war makes this study compellingly timely and significant."—Roy Allison, director of the Russian and Eurasian Studies Centre, St Antony's College, Oxford University
"Persson's book is the most comprehensive investigation into Russian strategic thinking. The depth with which she examines Russian strategic thinking is unparalleled. The book is rigorous and free from exoticizing Russian thinking. It is a must read for those handling Russian strategy."—Oscar Jonsson, senior associate fellow at NATO Defense College, assistant senior lecturer at Swedish Defense University, and author of The Russian Understanding of War
"This book is an outstanding intellectual history of, and an indispensable guide to, the evolution of Russian strategic thought. For anyone in academia and the world of policy who seeks to grasp why, when, and how Moscow has been and will continue using military force to achieve its political goals, this landmark account is a must read. Gudrun Persson's magisterial work comes at a time when it is most needed."—Dima Adamsky, professor, Reichman University
About the Author
Gudrun Persson is an associate professor of Slavic studies at Stockholm University. She is the author of Learning from Foreign Wars: Russian Military Thinking 1859–1873 and a member of the Swedish Royal Academy of War Sciences, Chatham House, and the Swedish Writers' Union.
