A masterpiece story about how war and insecurity, both real and perceived, have defined Russia's fate for centuries, including the disastrous invasion of Ukraine. Putin maintains his grip on Russia despite the nearly disastrous invasion of Ukraine. The answer to how and why lies in Russian history. Without natural defensive borders and with environmental factors limiting its economy, Russia has faced the prominent military powers of the times over the centuries, often at a technological disadvantage. To meet these challenges, it has been forced to impose a heavy burden on its people, and thus war - as well as the need to be able to fight - has shaped its evolution, from tsars to commissars and presidencies.
National identity has been forged in the fire of war. From the medieval kingdom of Rus fighting against Scandinavian princes and Mongol emperors, to the imperial conflicts of the 19th century in Asia, and the defining wars of the 20th century that saw Russia leap from tsarist empire to communist state and defender against Nazism, all these conflicts have colored Russia's lands red with blood. A weakened Russia after the Cold War turned to Putin, who created a new atmosphere of professional triumphalism that led directly to the war in Ukraine. Filled with contemporary testimonies, "Forged in War" strips away the myth to offer an inside look at Russia's past and present.
Pages: 368, Dimensions: 15.3x15.3cm
