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Why Russia Fights

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Published April 24, 2024

For centuries, fueled by historical, cultural, and geopolitical drives, Russia has been willing to sacrifice millions of its own people in expansionary wars with rival nations. This ethos, even in its mostly secular present-day form, has led Russia to believe that victory – at any cost – is all that matters. To better understand Putin and the war in Ukraine, it is imperative to not only understand Russia's objectives, strategies, and logistics, but to understand what drives such aggressive behavior; to understand why Russia fights.

Be sure to watch this episode's companion piece from UnArchived -"Russian Way of War" here!

Check Out More on this Subject:

  • Read Issue No.87 and other issues of the Hoover Institution's publication, Strategika, here.
  • Watch "The History Behind Russia's Expansionary Foreign Policy" with Stephen Kotkin here.
  • Watch Condoleezza Rice's discussion from Hoover's Policy Boot Camp on Russia, China, and Great Power Conflict here.

 

The opinions expressed on this website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University. © 2024 by the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University.