This extraordinary book charts the development of Russia’s relations with the Middle East from the Russian Revolution of 1917 to the present. It covers both high and low points – the closeness to Nasser’s Egypt, followed by reversal; the successful invasion of Afghanistan which later turned into a disaster; the changing relationship with Israel which was at some time surprisingly close; the relationship with Syria, which continues to be of huge significance; and much more. Written by one of Russia’s leading Arabists who was himself involved in the formation and implementation of policy, the book is engagingly written, extremely insightful, telling us things which only the author is in a position to tell us, and remarkably frank, not sparing senior Soviet and Russian figures from criticism. The book includes material based on the author’s conversations with other leading participants.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
- SOURCES OF MESSIANISM AND PRAGMATISM
- THE RISE AND FALL OF NIKITA S. KHRUSHCHEV
- UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE: THE ERA OF LEONID BREZHNEV
A. THE DEFEAT THAT TURNED INTO SUCCESS
B. THE MIDDLE EAST IN SOVIET MILITARY STRATEGY
C. A SEMI-VICTORY TURNED INTO DEFEAT
D. SLIDING DOWNHILL
E. LOST OPPORTUNITIES
F. THE HUMAN DIMENSION
A. THE DEFEAT THAT TURNED INTO SUCCESS
B. THE MIDDLE EAST IN SOVIET MILITARY STRATEGY
C. A SEMI-VICTORY TURNED INTO DEFEAT
D. SLIDING DOWNHILL
E. LOST OPPORTUNITIES
F. THE HUMAN DIMENSION
4. "ARDENT REVOLUTIONARIES, LOYAL FRIENDS": THE USSR AND THE COMMUNIST MOVEMENT
- AN EXOTIC FLOWER OF ARABIA
- THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, OR THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
A. QUADRANGLE: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS – INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE – STATE SECURITY COMMITTEE – MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
B. PERSONALITIES IN BIG POLITICS
C. DIPLOMATS. THEIR PLUSES, MINUSES, CAPABILITIES
- THE PAIN OF AFGHANISTAN
- MESSIANISM IN DECLINE: THE TIME OF MIKHAIL GORBACHEV
- FOREIGN POLICY AND DOMESTIC POLICY: THE USSR, ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS
- STORMS IN ALIEN DESERTS
A."CANNOT LOSE AFGHANISTAN"
B. "HISTORY GIVES NO ANSWER"
C. THE LOGIC OF THE FATEFUL DECISION
D. SEEKING A SOLUTION
11. CURSED NINETIES
A. IGNORE NOT INTERFERE…
B. THE MADRID PROCESS AND THE FATE OF THE "MOTHER OF ALL CONFLICTS"
C. RUSSIA-ISRAEL. "FRIENDSHIP WITH RESERVATIONS"
D. THE MINEFIELDS OF IRAQ
E. TURKEY – A PRIVILEGED TRADE PARTNER
F. DIFFICULT MOVEMENT TOWARDS EACH OTHER
G. A DESIRABLE PARTNER
12 TO RETURN, BUT HOW?
A. THE ATTEMPTS TO KEEP IRAQ AS A PARTNER
B. THE YEARS AND THE FRUIT OF REAL PRAGMATISM: RUSSIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
C. "A GOOD NEIGHBOUR, BUT NEIGHBOURS ARE NOT CHOSEN": THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND IRAN
D. AFGHANISTAN: FAR, BUT IN SOME WAYS CLOSE
E. RUSSIA AND THE COUNTRIES OF THE ARABIAN PENINSULA: CERTAIN PROGRESS
F. A PARTNERSHIP BUT NOT AN ALLIANCE (RUSSIA AND EGYPT IN THE 2000S)
G. RUSSIA'S MAIN TRUMP CARD IN THE MIDDLE EAST
13. THE CHILDREN DEVOUR THEIR REVOLUTIONS
A. REVOLUTIONS WITH THE FACE OF FACEBOOK OR SIMPLY A "FITNA" ?
B. CAUSES. DRIVING FORCES. EFFECTS
C. COUNTRY SPECIFICS
D. THE ROLE OF PERSONALITIES
E. WHAT DID THE "WASHINGTON PROVINCE PARTY COMMITTEE" DO?
F. WHAT ABOUT RUSSIA?
G. THE SPECIAL RELATION WITH EGYPT
14. THE SYRIAN TRAGEDY. THE BIRTH OF THE MONSTERS (2011-2015)
A. THE VICIOUS CIRCLE OF VIOLENCE
B. SMALL AND BIG MONSTERS
C. REGIONAL AND GLOBAL ACTORS
D. WHAT WAS THERE FOR RUSSIA TO DO?
E. ATTEMPTS TO ORGANIZE THE PROCESS OF POLITICAL SETTLEMENT
F. POISON GASES
G. AN ATTEMPT OF INTRA-SYRIAN DIALOGUE. GENEVA II
H. THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL: FOUR VETOES AND A FEW JO
Biography
Alexey Vasiliev is a full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Honorary President of the Academy’s Institute for African Studies. He has been a close observer of and active participant in the Soviet Union’s and Russia’s relations with the Middle East for several decades.
