Ukraine and Russia: The Post-Soviet Transition

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This timely study provides a clear analysis of both the domestic and foreign policies and security issues confronting Russias largest and most important neighbor during its first decade as an independent state. Roman Solchanyk emphasizes throughout the book, the complex, centuries-old Ukrainian-Russian relationship, which is so central that the Russian question plays the determining role in Ukraines foreign and domestic politics. In turn, the policy choices of Ukraines leaders influence the direction of Russias own transformation.

The book opens with a conceptual framework that addresses the key issues of the Ukrainian-Russian relationship. The initial chapters illustrate how relations between Kyiv and Moscow changedin the final analysis, dramaticallyunder the conditions of a crumbling and ultimately collapsing Soviet state. This is followed by a discussion of how the Russian question influences Ukraines internal developmentspolitical, social, and economicas well as its behavior in the international arena. The concluding chapters focus specifically on Crimea, a microcosm of the Ukrainian-Russian relationship.

Basing his argument on a wealth of primary source material, the author argues that the success of both Ukraines and Russias nation- and state-building projects will be largely determined by the normalization of their historically conditioned relationship. Indeed, success or failure will profoundly influence the direction of regional and European foreign policy and security.

Reviews

Stands out for its detailed reconstruction of unfolding events, particularly those involving Crimea. Solchanyk enriches the picture by including other dimensions of Ukrainian policy, including the preferred but elusive option of turning toward the West and the burden imposed by Ukraine's domestic failings. * Foreign Affairs *
Timely, ably written, and factually rich. . . . The volume provides excellent material for courses covering problems of postcommunist countries. Highly recommended. * Choice Reviews *
The book does an admirable job of discussing the issues surrounding the Ukrainian-Russian relationship. * Political Science Quarterly *
Solchanyk's study is a welcome addition to the growing English-language literature on modern Ukraine, not least because it is the first to concentrate on the all-important bilateral relationship between Ukraine and Russia. It does so in an informative and illuminating fashion. * Seer *
Impressive scholarly achievement. * Canadian Slavonic Papers *
This is a balanced portrayal of two countries trying to come to terms with each other's independence. This is far from a finished process. Solchanyk's book enables us to understand why. * Europe-Asia Studies *

Author Bio

Roman Solchanyk is a consultant at the RAND Corporation.