BOOK REVIEW: "Should We Fear Russia?" by Dmitri Trenin
Now, more than any time since the Cold War, does fear of Russia dominate the media. With its meddling in the 2016 election, citizens have become more aware of Russia and its ulterior motives to undermine United States democracy and legitimacy. Even though the public is realizing that Russia is not the fractured weak state it was after the Cold War, those in the international world know this is nothing new and part of Russia's 21st century playbook.
Dmitri Trenin's "Should We Fear Russia?" was written in February 2016 but addresses many of the fears that have been dominating the media and political discussions since the election. Though the book does not discuss President Donald Trump or election meddling, Trenin is still effectively able to pull apart Russia's role in the world today and answer his question convincingly in about 90 pages. Trenin, a Russian national, says that while most fears about Russia are not grounded, that does not mean the country should be handled without care. The web he weaves to explain why presents a complex, multi-dimensional situation that has not been so thoroughly covered elsewhere.
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Trenin writes that Russia's proclivity for the use of force is one of the driving fears, and the President Vladimir Putin's model of never showing weakness has led to the country punching above its own weight, given the current economic situation. The annexation of Crimea further illustrates how Russia uses its geographic location to flex its muscles. He argues that country's goal is to build a multi-ethnic state with a nationalist agenda; it is important to remember that Russia was once an empire and the view of itself as a great power has not diminished over