The Lands in Between: Russia vs. the West and the New Politics of Hybrid War

Russia's stealth invasion of Ukraine and its assault on the US elections in 2016 forced a reluctant West to grapple with the effects of hybrid war. While most citizens in the West are new to the problems of election hacking, state-sponsored disinformation campaigns, influence operations by foreign security services, and frozen conflicts, citizens of the frontline states between Russia and the European Union have been dealing with these issues for years. The Lands in Between: The New Politics of Russia's Hybrid War contends that these "lands in between" hold powerful lessons for Western countries. For Western politics is becoming increasingly similar to the lands in between, where hybrid warfare has polarized parties and voters into two camps: those who support a Western vision of liberal democracy and those who support a Russian vision of nationalist authoritarianism. Paradoxically, while politics increasingly boils down to a zero sum "civilizational choice" between Russia and the West, those who rise to the pinnacle of the political system in the lands in between are often non-ideological power brokers who have found a way to profit from both sides, taking rewards from both Russia and the West. Increasingly, the political pathologies of these small, vulnerable, and backwards states in Europe are our problems too. In this deepening conflict, we are all lands in between.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction 2. Russia's Hybrid War on the West 3. The West's Belated Response 4. The Lands in Between 5. Contest for Central and Eastern Europe 6. Core Europe and the US The New Politics of Hybrid War

About the Author :
Mitchell A. Orenstein is Professor of Russian and East European Studies at University of Pennsylvania and Senior Fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Eurasia Program. He is the author of three prize-winning books on postcommunist transitions and co-author of From Triumph to Crisis: Neoliberal Reform in Postcommunist Countries (with Hilary Appel).

Review :
"[T]he book will appeal to practitioners, academics and students with an interest in Russia's relations with the West. It is a masterfully written, clear and succinct explanation of Russia's hybrid war and its results." -- Zerrin Torun, Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, Europe-Asia Studies "Professor Mitchell Orenstein is one of the leading experts on the influence of Russia on the West, who can combine a catchy, interesting, easy-to-read style with academic depth and an extensive and up-to-date knowledge on Central and Eastern Europe. This book is exceptional in at least two ways. First, unlike many other books written on the topic, The Lands in Between does not get lost in the details but provides an elegant, holistic picture. Second, it puts a strong focus on the policy solutions. A must-read for all academics and practitioners who are interested in Russia's malevolent influence on the West." -- Péter Krekó, Hungarian Fulbright Visiting Professor, Indiana University and Faculty Member, Russian and East European Institute "Orenstein's main argument-that Western countries are following the path of polarization long seen in the 'lands in between'-seems counterintuitive at first. But Orenstein ushers in a mass amount of evidence to support this narrative, laid out in a straightforward and easy-to-read manner. This book is a must-read for longtime students of Eastern Europe and those only now realizing its geopolitical significance." -- Alina Polyakova, David M. Rubenstein Fellow in Foreign Policy, Center on the United States and Europe, The Brookings Institution "A slender, astute study of Russia's nefarious modus operandi...clarifies many of the bewildering contradictions that directly affect European and American politics." -- Kirkus Reviews "The Lands in Between is a seminal study of the post-Cold War political rivalry between the West and Russia. With his unmatched scholarship as a historian, Mitchell A. Orenstein discusses Russia's hybrid war on the West from all possible angles." The Washington Book Review