Giles, Keir. Russia's War on Everybody: And What It Means for You. London: Bloomsbury
Academic, 2023. ISBN: 9781350255081
Everyone not living in a cave has become aware of Russia's actions on the world stage. If you are interested in some of the details of particular cases and likely reasons why, then read Gile's Russia's War on Everybody!
Keir Giles in eight short chapters provides a wealth of documented information on how Russia seeks to influence people and events around the world for their benefit. He starts by providing context on what makes Russia so different and strange in comparison to other European countries. The next chapter examines how the concept of politics as warfare by other means plays out in the Kremlin and Russia at large. There is a chapter discussing Russia's role in Brexit and Trump's 2016 campaign among other issues. Then the role of the Russian military in influencing global politics comes to the fore. Chapter 5 does a deep dive into how Russia's actions affect individual people. Chapter 6 discusses the role of bribery, wealth, and "willing accomplices" allow Russia access and leverage. The next to last chapter show how Russia has intertwined business, statecraft, and crime for its own benefit. Giles finishes the book with a warning on what might come next. He also provides a list of selected readings and documentation for his arguments.
If you are interested in understanding current geopolitics, Russia's War on Everybody would be a good title to read..
