Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine is rooted in the false historical assumption that Ukraine is not really a nation and should not have a state.
It is rooted in a centuries-old imperialist belief that it is Russia’s destiny and right to rule the Eurasian landmass.
And these beliefs and assumptions, which are a central part of Russia’s strategic culture, were prevalent before Putin came onto the scene – and they will likely still be prevalent after he departs.So how does Russia’s imperial syndrome drive its foreign policy?
On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore speaks to Jeff Mankoff, a Distinguished Research Fellow at National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies and author of the recently published book Empires of Eurasia: How Imperial Legacies Shape International Security.