I am thrilled to introduce the 4th edition of the Journal of Peace and War Studies (JPWS), which timely addresses the theme of “Deciphering the Russian Riddle: National Interests and Geopolitical Competitions.”

Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has frightened the international community, significantly disrupting the rules-based international order established after the end of World War II. Realpolitik concerns thus take the central position of global politics. Along with heightening tensions over Taiwan between the United States and China, the international community has even come to worry about the possibility of a nuclear war between great powers, which has been unthinkable in the post-Cold War era.  

Under these rapidly changing geopolitical circumstances, a group of prominent scholars analyze various Russia-related issues and provide unique insights in this special edition. These analyses encompass fundamental roots of Russia’s grand strategy and foreign policy, Russia’s strategies in Syria and Bosnia, Russo-Georgian and Russo-Ukrainian wars, the growing China-Russia partnership, Russia’s disinformation strategies toward Syria and the Arctic, and shifting Ukrainian nationhood and identities. Moreover, two intelligent student researchers add insights into intra-factional fighting within Yugoslavia during World War II and America’s strategic ambiguity vis-à-vis China and Taiwan.         

I want to express deep gratitude to more than 35 scholars around the world, who closely reviewed the manuscripts and provided critical comments and suggestions. Thanks also to Assistant Editor Vina Hutchinson for her thorough copy edits and to Norwich director of creative services Joseph Yglesias for a great journal design.

We hope you find the contents of the 2022 special issue on Russia insightful, though there was a publication delay and things have somewhat changed since.
We look forward to your thoughts and feedback. Thank you!

Yangmo Ku
Editor, Journal of Peace and War Studies
Associate Professor, Political Science
Associate Director, John and Mary Frances Patton Peace & War Center
Norwich University
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Table of Contents

THEME: Deciphering the Russian Riddle: National Interests and Geopolitical Competitions

Russia’s Grand Strategy toward the West
Thomas Graham

The Domestic Foundations of Russian Foreign Policy
Peter Rutland

Lessons From Syria: What We Can Learn About the Russian Way of War
Nikolas K. Gvosdev

‘Terrorist Recruiters’ Versus ‘Terrorist Slayers’: Weaponizing Syria in Russian Information Warfare
Eszter Szenes and Mark W. Perry

The Aftermath of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War: Appeasement of Russia and the War in Ukraine
Lasha Tchantouridzé

The Russo-Chinese ‘Strategic Partnership’ Enters a New and Dynamic Phase
Lyle Goldstein and Vitaly Kozyrev

Not Your Father’s Disinformation: Emerging Technology, Social Media Advances, and the Growth of Smart Disinformation
Mary Manjikian

Bosnia and Russia: The Implications for European Security and US Interests
Nadina Ronc

Russian Information Operations: The Kremlin’s Competitive Narratives and Arctic Influence Objectives
P. Whitney Lackenbauer, Troy Bouffard, and Adam Lajeunesse

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Vision of Ukrainian Nationhood
Jessica Pisano

Borderland No More? Shifting Security Dynamics in Ukraine
Angela Kachuyevski

Student Research

The Yugoslavia Civil War and the Allies in World War II
Caleb M. Reilly

Evaluating the Value of US Diplomacy Through Strategic Ambiguity
Ethan Owens

Copyright © 2022 by the John and Mary Frances Patton Peace and War Center, Norwich University.
Printed by Norwich University Press.
ISSN 2641-841X (Print) • ISSN 2641-8428 (Online)