International security

Searching for the roots of Russia’s aggression

The vehemence of Russia’s recent turn against the West has shocked observers and prompted a scramble for explanations. Marvin Kalb, a veteran foreign correspondent and Russia hand, believes the key to the current crisis lies in the region’s history, specifically the interwoven pasts of the countries now called Russia and Ukraine. In “Imperial Gamble,” he provides a primer on the important events and personalities of the past 12 centuries. His narrative ranges from Mongol invaders to Kiev’s pro-Europe protesters, from the facade villages of Grigori Potemkin to the ersatz democracy of Vladimir Putin.