By Justin Kempf NATO Expansion was a Response to Russian Aggression At the end of the Cold War, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization consisted of 16 member states. Over the past thirty years it has grown to 30. After Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden applied for membership. Their inclusion will double NATO... Continue Reading →
By Justin Kempf A Tragic Anniversary One year ago today Russia invaded Ukraine. It's difficult to adequately describe what has happened. Some call it the War in Ukraine. But this description absolves Russia of its role in starting the conflict. Serhii Plokhy has a new book called The Russo-Ukrainian War. This sounds like a fairer description.... Continue Reading →
By John Christianson The Value of Airpower for Modern Militaries The Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022 shocked the world and united western democracies in a way Vladimir Putin has always aimed to undermine. The war has now become a clarion call for the defense of democracy from external threats that has united... Continue Reading →
By Justin Kempf Why We Support Ukraine Yesterday Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an address to Congress where he made his case for continued military and economic support for his country. During his time in Washington, he made the case not just for additional weapons, but also more powerful ones as well. Yet while the United States... Continue Reading →
Become a Patron! Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox. Would Putin Use Nuclear Weapons? In a speech yesterday to the Russian nation, Vladimir Putin warned the West he would use nuclear weapons to defend Russia. He even emphasized his warning was "not a bluff." Still, it's unclear what Putin means when he refers to... Continue Reading →
Become a Patron! Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox. The Kremlin Shows New Vulnerabilities The annexation of Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine threatens to escalate the war in unexpected ways. Russia has repeatedly emphasized any attacks on its territories amount to some kind of red line. They have even signaled a possible nuclear response. Former... Continue Reading →
Become a Patron! Order Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way's Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism. Available for sale this week. Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox. Central Asia Wants to Link its Future to China The latest Economist reports renewed interest in the construction of new rail lines in Central Asia. The... Continue Reading →
Become a Patron! Staging Democracy The distinction between democracy and autocracy has become difficult to ascertain with the proliferation of so many hybrid regimes around the world. Most autocratic regimes hold multiparty elections. Of course, they are neither free nor fair. Nonetheless, they make efforts to demonstrate some form of electoral legitimacy. Moreover, the unfairness... Continue Reading →
Become a Patron! Hot Peace Perhaps the book Michael McFaul is most recognized for is From Cold War to Hot Peace. It's his personal memoir from his time as the American ambassador to Russia. But like I said on the podcast it also provides a chronicle of US-Russo relations during a time of transition. McFaul begins... Continue Reading →
Become a Patron! Power and Purpose In the recent interview with Michael McFaul and Robert Person, we mention two different books written by Michael McFaul. It's likely you have read his most recent book From Cold War to Hot Peace. But we also mention an older book called Power and Purpose. McFaul coauthored this book with James... Continue Reading →
