Russian President Vladimir Putin has implemented a set of policies toward his neighbors intended to help him re-establish his country's status as a major world power. These have included dominating, as far as possible, the independent states that once were part of the USSR and preventing further NATO encroachment on Russia's borders. He has also sought a pragmatic partnership with China to help bolster the Russian economy in the face of Western sanctions and declining revenues from oil and gas. This book argues that Putin's efforts have been largely, although not entirely, successful. In the future, however, the weakness of the Russian economy as compared to China's may pose a threat to Moscow's ability to maintain a Russian sphere of influence in its own neighborhood. Review In their book, Spechler and Spechler (both, Indiana Univ.) examine the success of Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy in the "near abroad" (the former Soviet republics). They argue that Putin hopes to achieve four objectives in the near abroad: prevent more "color" revolutions; keep NATO out; stem the flow of terrorists, arms, and drugs; and provide economic opportunities for his associates. This volume is strongest in the chapters evaluating Russia's foreign policy in the near abroad. Looking at Central Asia, countries to the Southwest, and countries to the Northwest, the authors provide basic background for each country as well as a brief overview of its relationship with Russia. Although these individual country analyses are not exhaustive, they do give readers a good sense of Russia's policies and foreign relations under Putin. The book also presents a useful summary of the recent history of Russian foreign policy thought and a chapter on the ever-changing relationship between Russia and China. The discussion of Russia and China's competition over Central Asia and their use of different international organizations to further their goals is particularly useful. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; professionals.--CHOICE "Putin and His Neighbors: Russia's Policies toward Eurasia is a timely addition to our understanding the economic underpinnings of Russian foreign policy since the resource boom ended in 2014. In particular, it weaves together the implications of President Putin's agenda, Russia's economic weaknesses and the rise of China as a competitor or potential ally, especially in Central Asia."--Richard Pomfret, University of Adelaide "The reader interested in Russian policy toward its near neighbors - the fourteen other post-Soviet states plus Finland and China - as well as the competitive relationship of Putin's Russia and China, especially in Central Asia, will find this volume essential reading. The authors conclude that 'that Putin's nearly two-decade rule has had considerable, although not unqualified, success in achieving' in the Near Abroad the major goals of preventing radical democratic political changes; excluding NATO from countries near Russia's borders, except in the Baltic; interdicting flows of terrorists, arms, and drugs; and providing generous incomes for Putin's closest associates and supporters."--Roger E. Kanet, Professor Emeritus at both the University of Miami and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign "This rigorously argued and incisive book furnishes a provocative analysis of Russian foreign policy in the former Soviet Union. Unlike many other such studies it emphasizes Russia's economic leverage and argues against the grain of most studies in this subject that Moscow's policies here have largely succeeded. Like it or not, this is an argument with which scholars, experts, and policymakers must contend with."--Stephen Blank, Senior Fellow, American Foreign Policy Council About the Author Dina R. Spechler is associate professor of political science and adjunct associate professor of international studies at Indiana University. Martin
