In the Light of War

In recent decades, few people have researched the German-Russian web of historical experiences, power-political interests and ideological fever dreams in greater depth than Gerd Koenen. In the light of this new war, which throws up many old questions, he embarks on an investigation that takes us from the cynical partnership of the Hitler-Stalin pact to the friend-or-foe propaganda of our own times, and from the founders of ‘Memorial’ to Putin’s spin doctors. Personal meetings and nuanced analyses come together to produce a long-term diagnosis of a country suffering from deep insecurity, whilst at the same time wanting to be seen as a world power on a par with China and the USA.

*‘Gerd Koenen is incredibly intelligent, but he never gives the impression of thinking he knows everything.’ Thea Dorn

*A thoughtful analysis from Russia expert Gerd Koenen

*Russia in the never-ending cycle of history – Gerd Koenen analyses Russia’s path to war