Keir Giles has advised governments worldwide on the Russian threat. A senior fellow with Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia Programme, and Director of the Conflict Studies Research Centre, he is a regular commentator for the BBC and international media. His prescient books include What Deters Russia and Moscow Rules.

"A powerful warning." -- iNews

"A blistering account of our defense shortcomings." -- Edward Lucas, The Times

"Keir Giles has been warning us for many years of Russia's determination to re-arm, remilitarize and rebuild an empire. Now he offers a stark warning for Europe and the world: the only alternative to planning for a war is planning to lose it." -- Anne Applebaum, author of Autocracy, Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World

"A powerful and urgent analysis of Europe's looming security challenges--this book is a wake-up call for anyone who cares about the future of the continent." -- Eliot Higgins, Director, Founder of Bellingcat

"Russia's intent can no longer be denied--but as Keir Giles explains in chilling detail, Europe's defences are lagging behind the threat. This book is a vital call to action to preserve the way of life Europe takes for granted, before it is too late." -- Toomas Hendrik Ilves, former president of Estonia

"A forcefully argued, often bitingly vehement attack on the state of European security policy in the wake of Russia's expanded invasion of Ukraine." -- Diplomatic Courier

"Keir Giles presents the reader with a disturbing catalogue of Europe's weaknesses, and how Russia is planning to exploit them. As regards Europe and the West in general, Russia is a hostile actor, has always been, and will always be, and collectively, Europe should expect that Russia will exploit to the fullest, not just the vulnerabilities it can create, but the vulnerabilities Europe has created for itself." -- Gen John R. Allen, US Marine Corps (Ret), former commander NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)

"This vital book brutally exposes the impact of decades of Western European defense complacency and why it must be addressed before it is too late. Keir Giles also calls for a new generation of visionary statesmen to lead us out of the disaster confronting us." -- Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, former Chief of the Defence Staff

"In this superb book, Keir Giles makes the point that while it may be expensive to pay for a useful military deterrent, it is vastly more expensive to fight a war if deterrence fails. Giles makes a compelling and well-argued case for much increased European investment in defense and national resilience. His book should be a clarion call for our political leaders and citizens to act decisively and with purpose." -- Maj-Gen Mick Ryan, Australian Army (Ret), currently the Senior Fellow for Military Studies at the Lowy Institute in Sydney

"Once again, Keir Giles is trying to save us from our own lethargy with his crisp, insightful analysis of Russia's threat to Europe. His clear-eyed assessment ... should jolt all of us into action." -- Lt-Gen Ben Hodges, Commander, US Army Europe, 2014-17 (Ret)

"A well-written book, offering detailed insights and perspectives on the gravity of Europe's security situation, which will have spillover effects worldwide." -- The Strategist

"The most important book on European security since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. I highly recommend it." -- Jason Davidson, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council, and Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, University of Mary Washington

"[Giles] has some excellent points to make." -- The Naval Review

"[Giles] elegantly weaves together isolationism in the United States, failures of Europe's leadership, and the collective naivete of the West in understanding the imperialist threat of Putin's Russia." -- Foreign Policy

"Timely and excellent." -- The Australian Financial Review

"Keir Giles is always worth reading and listening to, and his latest (but not, I hope, last) book about the recent and current Russian political system is no exception." -- East-West Review

"Richly documented and persuasively argued." -- The Spectator World

"A product of rigorous academic research resulting in strongly justified argument, analysis and evaluation." -- CHACR Critique

Publisher: Hurst & Co.

Pub date: 2024-12-15

Length: 280 pages