Source: Washington
Belarus, although frequently overlooked in the West, is a country critical to the development of the post-Soviet states and to Europe as a whole. Its location alone — bordering Russia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine — points to Belarus's importance as a major geopolitical player. On top of that, the ambitions of its president mean that Belarus will likely have a say in the future of Russia, Ukraine, and other neighboring states.
To address what, to date, has been short-sighted and potentially dangerous neglect of Belarus, the editors of this book bring together essays by specialists from Belarus, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, and the United States to focus on Belarus's place in the evolving European security environment. No other publication has taken such a diverse approach to this little-understood country.
About the Authors
Sherman W. Garnett dean of James Madison College at Michigan State University. During his five years at the Endowment, he was a senior associate and co-director of the Project on Security and National Identity in the Russia and Eurasia Program and author of Keystone in the Arch: Ukraine in the Emerging Security Environment of Central and Eastern Europe.
Robert Legvold is professor of political science at Columbia University, where he specializes in the international relations of the post-Soviet states. He was director of the Harriman Institute, Columbia University, from 1986 to 1992. Prior to going to Columbia in 1984, he served for six years as senior fellow and director of the Soviet Studies Project at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
Advance Praise
“There are few good books on modern Belarus, and this is undoubtedly one of the best.”
—Andrew Wilson, The Slavonic and East European Review
“No other publication has taken such a diverse approach to this little understood country.”
—Brookings Institution
