Thread by @ForeignAffairs

Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, are never far from the headlines. To add context to Moscow’s internal politics and international exploits, our editors compiled a paywall-free reading list on Russia in the post-Soviet era:
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.@mkimmage writes that many Russia observers focus on the post-Soviet state’s grip on society but often miss its popular foundation—and how elements of Russian society enabled Putin’s rise.
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As long as Putin remains in power, changing Russia from the outside will be close to impossible. Washington’s strategy needs to recognize this reality, writes @McFaul.
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For centuries, Russia has held geopolitical ambitions that exceed its capabilities. President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to secure Moscow a prominent place on the world stage follow this historical pattern, writes Stephen Kotkin.
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Having spent decades pushing east into Russia’s natural sphere of interest, Washington and its European allies share much of the responsibility for the Ukraine crisis, writes John Mearsheimer.
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In the United States, confrontational rhetoric and policies toward Russia—coming from both sides of the aisle—often ignore reality and preclude a more productive approach, writes @EmmaMAshford.
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If the Kremlin wishes to move past Russia’s tsarist and Soviet history, it will have to rein in the seemingly untrammeled power of the country’s security services, write @AndreiSoldatov and @irinaborogan.
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