Putin's War in Syria: Russian Foreign Policy and the Price of America's Absence

Putin's intervention in Syria in 2015 achieved significant key domestic and foreign policy objectives without crippling costs, and he is well-positioned to direct Syria's future and become a leading power in the Middle East. This book explores Putins overall approach to the Middle East, tracing the political, diplomatic, military, and domestic aspects of the intervention. It also illustrates the impact of Western absence in Syria and the role of the West in the Middle East.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 05 January 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Skillfully lays out Mr. Putin's approach to the Middle East.

The Wall Street Journal described it as "detailed and fascinating."

Diplomatic Courier praised it as "a well-researched and insightful analysis."

In September 2015, when Putin intervened in Syria, many international critics predicted that Russia would overextend itself and that Barack Obama even suggested that the country would find itself in a "quagmire" in Syria.

Contrary to these predictions, Anna Borshchevskaya argues in her book that Putin actually achieved significant key domestic and foreign policy objectives without incurring crippling costs.

She further suggests that Putin 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.

This book places Russian intervention in Syria in a broader context, exploring Putin's overall approach to the Middle East.

Historically, Moscow has had a special relationship with Damascus.

Borshchevskaya delves into the political, diplomatic, military, and domestic aspects of this intervention.

She examines the Russian military campaign, public opinion within Russia, as well as Russian diplomatic tactics at the United Nations.

Crucially, this book illustrates the impact of Western absence in Syria, particularly the US absence, and what the role of the West could be, and should be, in the Middle East.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 165 x 241 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350379770