From The Nation, Sean Guillory on how Russian nationalism fuels race riots: The Biryulyovo riots should be read first and foremost as a protest against the multiethnic state. Can the absence of freedom of speech, a monopolized media market, and a politicized education create obstacles which will stand in the way of economic growth? Konstantin Moshe Yanovskiy and Dmitry Cherny on the crooked mirror. James W. Carden on why Russians still don't hate communism. Reports of Russia’s death are exaggerated: Spengler reviews Implosion: The End of Russia and What It Means for America by Ilan Berman. Nikolas K. Gvosdev on how Russia's military is back. J. Lester Feder on the Russian plot to take back Eastern Europe at the expense of gay rights. Denis Corboy, William Courtney, Kenneth Yalowitz on how to handle Russia. Russia’s foreign policy is nearing complete failure: Putin’s diplomatic coup on Syria obscures a dismal pattern, writes Stephen Sestanovich. What the hell's going on in Ukraine, explained. Gideon Rachman on how Putin miscalculated in the struggle for Ukraine. Is Ukraine Putin’s Pyrrhic victory or “resurgent neo-authoritarian Russia flexing geopolitical muscle”? Kevin Drum on Vladimir Putin and the limits of thuggishness. The seduction of George W. Bush: Peter Baker on how the president of good and evil bromanced Vladimir Putin — and how a warm friendship turned to ice.
