Overview

""Skillfully lays out Mr. Putin’s approach to the Middle East."" Wall Street Journal ""Detailed and fascinating."" Diplomatic Courier Putin intervened in Syria in September 2015, with international critics predicting that Russia would overextend itself and Barack Obama suggesting the country would find itself in a “quagmire” in Syria. Contrary to this, Anna Borshchevskaya argues that in fact Putin achieved significant key domestic and foreign policy objectives without crippling costs, and is well-positioned to direct Syria’s future and become a leading power in the Middle East. This outcome has serious implications for Western foreign policy interests both in the Middle East and beyond. Borshchevskaya places Russian intervention in Syria in this broader context, exploring Putin’s overall approach to the Middle East – historically Moscow has a special relationship with Damascus – and traces the political, diplomatic, military and domestic aspects of this intervention. She delves into the Russian military campaign, public opinion within Russia, and Russian diplomatic tactics at the United Nations. Crucially, this book illustrates the impact of Western absence in Syria, particularly US absence, and what the role of the West is — and could be — in the Middle East.

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9781350452619

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Reviews

Borshchevskaya… offers one of the most durable sentences in the history of American foreign policy: “The United States threw the Kurds under the bus."" -- Thomas E. Ricks * The New York Times * Skillfully lays out Mr. Putin’s approach to the Middle East... [And] a useful primer on how the Russian government sees the world. -- Samuel Sweeney * Wall Street Journal * Borshchevskaya’s book is one that has been long overdue—this is perhaps the only book available that looks exclusively at Russia’s intervention, its causes and consequences (both internationally and domestically), and what it means more broadly for Russia’s geopolitical position. “Putin’s War in Syria” is a detailed and fascinating… [it is] exceptionally enlightening and fills in the significant gaps in media coverage and popular analysis. -- Joshua Huminski * Diplomatic Courier * No one knows the subject matter better than Anna Borshchevskaya, whose research is extraordinary and insights into Russian high strategy are absolutely on target. * Ambassador James Jeffrey, U.S. Special Representative for Syria 2018-2020 * Anna Borshchevskaya has written an important account of how Putin not only avoided getting Russia into a quagmire in Syria as President Obama predicted, but has instead succeeded militarily at low cost in part through leveraging the actions of others (including Iran and Hezbollah) operating there. She also shows that Moscow has succeeded diplomatically at managing differences and improving relations with Washington’s traditional Middle Eastern allies during its campaign in Syria. Her eminently readable book should be read by policymakers, scholars, and students. * Mark N. Katz, Professor of Government and Politics, George Mason University/Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Atlantic Council * Anna Borshchevskaya is Washington’s go-to expert on Russian involvement in the Middle East. Her years of research have resulted in a thoughtful, comprehensive, and authoritative account of the evolution of Moscow’s relationship with Damascus and of Russia’s military and diplomatic intervention in the war. Borshchevskaya is a keen observer of the Kremlin and of Vladimir Putin’s approach toward great power competition in the Middle East, a region in which Syria is presently ground zero. Putin’s War in Syria is an indispensable volume for policy practitioners and analysts alike. * David Schenker, Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and former assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs * The full tragedy of Syria is laid bare in this remarkable book, and the central role of Vladimir Putin in the creation of seemingly endless destruction and death is clearly identified. The first step for accountability begins with accurate history, and this volume will be a central part of it. * James Stavridis, Admiral, US Navy (Retired) * Putin's War in Syria is an eye opening examination of Russia as it relates to a much bigger world than NATO and central Europe. Born in Russia, Anna Borshchevskaya opens our eyes to Russian ambitions and gives us a slightly different view of how it sees itself in relation to the west and the US. In Syria, Russia re enters great power competition - outside of its former “sphere of influence” - and now owns a seat at the table in the Middle East. Does the west get it? Does the US get it? Borshchevskaya does a superb job of annotating what we have missed and how Russia has used all the tools of national power to keep the west one step behind on the chessboard. A must read for those like me who tend to keep Russian in a European context. * General Phil Breedlove, US Air Force (Retired) * Putin’s war in Syria makes an important contribution by explaining Russia’s policies in the Middle East through its identity, history and modern realities. * International Affairs *

"""Borshchevskaya... offers one of the most durable sentences in the history of American foreign policy: ""The United States threw the Kurds under the bus."""" --Thomas E. Ricks, The New York Times ""Skillfully lays out Mr. Putin's approach to the Middle East... [And] a useful primer on how the Russian government sees the world."" --Samuel Sweeney, Wall Street Journal ""Borshchevskaya's book is one that has been long overdue-this is perhaps the only book available that looks exclusively at Russia's intervention, its causes and consequences (both internationally and domestically), and what it means more broadly for Russia's geopolitical position. ""Putin's War in Syria"" is a detailed and fascinating... [it is] exceptionally enlightening and fills in the significant gaps in media coverage and popular analysis."" --Joshua Huminski, Diplomatic Courier ""No one knows the subject matter better than Anna Borshchevskaya, whose research is extraordinary and insights into Russian high strategy are absolutely on target."" --Ambassador James Jeffrey, U.S. Special Representative for Syria 2018-2020 ""Anna Borshchevskaya has written an important account of how Putin not only avoided getting Russia into a quagmire in Syria as President Obama predicted, but has instead succeeded militarily at low cost in part through leveraging the actions of others (including Iran and Hezbollah) operating there. She also shows that Moscow has succeeded diplomatically at managing differences and improving relations with Washington's traditional Middle Eastern allies during its campaign in Syria. Her eminently readable book should be read by policymakers, scholars, and students."" --Mark N. Katz, Professor of Government and Politics, George Mason University/Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Atlantic Council ""Anna Borshchevskaya is Washington's go-to expert on Russian involvement in the Middle East. Her years of research have resulted in a thoughtful, comprehensive, and authoritative account of the evolution of Moscow's relationship with Damascus and of Russia's military and diplomatic intervention in the war. Borshchevskaya is a keen observer of the Kremlin and of Vladimir Putin's approach toward great power competition in the Middle East, a region in which Syria is presently ground zero. Putin's War in Syria is an indispensable volume for policy practitioners and analysts alike."" --David Schenker, Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and former assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs ""The full tragedy of Syria is laid bare in this remarkable book, and the central role of Vladimir Putin in the creation of seemingly endless destruction and death is clearly identified. The first step for accountability begins with accurate history, and this volume will be a central part of it."" --James Stavridis, Admiral, US Navy (Retired) ""Putin's War in Syria is an eye opening examination of Russia as it relates to a much bigger world than NATO and central Europe. Born in Russia, Anna Borshchevskaya opens our eyes to Russian ambitions and gives us a slightly different view of how it sees itself in relation to the west and the US. In Syria, Russia re enters great power competition - outside of its former ""sphere of influence"" - and now owns a seat at the table in the Middle East. Does the west get it? Does the US get it? Borshchevskaya does a superb job of annotating what we have missed and how Russia has used all the tools of national power to keep the west one step behind on the chessboard. A must read for those like me who tend to keep Russian in a European context."" --General Phil Breedlove, US Air Force (Retired) ""Putin's war in Syria makes an important contribution by explaining Russia's policies in the Middle East through its identity, history and modern realities."" --International Affairs"

"Borshchevskaya… offers one of the most durable sentences in the history of American foreign policy: “The United States threw the Kurds under the bus."" -- Thomas E. Ricks * The New York Times * Skillfully lays out Mr. Putin’s approach to the Middle East... [And] a useful primer on how the Russian government sees the world. -- Samuel Sweeney * Wall Street Journal * Borshchevskaya’s book is one that has been long overdue—this is perhaps the only book available that looks exclusively at Russia’s intervention, its causes and consequences (both internationally and domestically), and what it means more broadly for Russia’s geopolitical position. “Putin’s War in Syria” is a detailed and fascinating… [it is] exceptionally enlightening and fills in the significant gaps in media coverage and popular analysis. -- Joshua Huminski * Diplomatic Courier * No one knows the subject matter better than Anna Borshchevskaya, whose research is extraordinary and insights into Russian high strategy are absolutely on target. * Ambassador James Jeffrey, U.S. Special Representative for Syria 2018-2020 * Anna Borshchevskaya has written an important account of how Putin not only avoided getting Russia into a quagmire in Syria as President Obama predicted, but has instead succeeded militarily at low cost in part through leveraging the actions of others (including Iran and Hezbollah) operating there. She also shows that Moscow has succeeded diplomatically at managing differences and improving relations with Washington’s traditional Middle Eastern allies during its campaign in Syria. Her eminently readable book should be read by policymakers, scholars, and students. * Mark N. Katz, Professor of Government and Politics, George Mason University/Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Atlantic Council * Anna Borshchevskaya is Washington’s go-to expert on Russian involvement in the Middle East. Her years of research have resulted in a thoughtful, comprehensive, and authoritative account of the evolution of Moscow’s relationship with Damascus and of Russia’s military and diplomatic intervention in the war. Borshchevskaya is a keen observer of the Kremlin and of Vladimir Putin’s approach toward great power competition in the Middle East, a region in which Syria is presently ground zero. Putin’s War in Syria is an indispensable volume for policy practitioners and analysts alike. * David Schenker, Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and former assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs * The full tragedy of Syria is laid bare in this remarkable book, and the central role of Vladimir Putin in the creation of seemingly endless destruction and death is clearly identified. The first step for accountability begins with accurate history, and this volume will be a central part of it. * James Stavridis, Admiral, US Navy (Retired) * Putin's War in Syria is an eye opening examination of Russia as it relates to a much bigger world than NATO and central Europe. Born in Russia, Anna Borshchevskaya opens our eyes to Russian ambitions and gives us a slightly different view of how it sees itself in relation to the west and the US. In Syria, Russia re enters great power competition - outside of its former “sphere of influence” - and now owns a seat at the table in the Middle East. Does the west get it? Does the US get it? Borshchevskaya does a superb job of annotating what we have missed and how Russia has used all the tools of national power to keep the west one step behind on the chessboard. A must read for those like me who tend to keep Russian in a European context. * General Phil Breedlove, US Air Force (Retired) * Putin’s war in Syria makes an important contribution by explaining Russia’s policies in the Middle East through its identity, history and modern realities. * International Affairs *"

Author Information

Anna Borshchevskaya is a Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, USA, focusing on Russia's policy toward the Middle East, and a Fellow at the European Foundation for Democracy. A former analyst for a U.S. military contractor in Afghanistan, she has also served as Communications Director at the American Islamic Congress. Her analysis is published widely in publications such as Foreign Affairs, The Hill, The New Criterion, and Middle East Quarterly.

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