Journal Of Soviet And Post Soviet Politics And Society

Special Sections: Russian Foreign Policy Towards the “Near Abroad” and Russia's Annexiation of Crimea II This special section deals with Russia’s post-Maidan foreign policy towards the so-called “near abroad,” or the former Soviet states. This is an important and timely topic, as Russia’s policy perspectives have changed dramatically since 2013/2014, as have those of its neighbors. The Kremlin today is paradoxically following an aggressive “realist” agenda that seeks to clearly delineate its sphere of influence in Europe and Eurasia while simultaneously attempting to promote “soft-power” and a historical-civilizational justification for its recent actions in Ukraine (and elsewhere). The result is an often perplexing amalgam of policy positions that are difficult to disentangle. The contributors to this special issue are all regional specialists based either in Europe or the United States.

This issue includes the fifth special section in the series "Issues in the History and Memory of the OUN" and the second instalment of "A Debate on 'Ustashism, ' Generic Fascism and the OUN," both guest edited by Andreas Umland and Yuliya Yurchuk.

Featuring a special section on "Russian Foreign Policy Towards the 'Near Abroad'" Issue 4.2 deals with Russia's post-Maidan foreign policy towards the so-called "near abroad," or the former Soviet states. This is an important and timely topic, as Russia's policy perspectives have changed dramatically since 2013-2014, as have those of its neighbors. The Kremlin today is paradoxically following an aggressive "realist" agenda that seeks to clearly delineate its sphere of influence in Europe and Eurasia while simultaneously attempting to promote "soft power" and a historical-civilizational justification for its recent actions in Ukraine (and elsewhere). The result is an often perplexing amalgam of policy positions that are difficult to disentangle. The contributors to this special issue are all regional specialists based either in Europe or the United States.

This issue features a special section on the memory of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the OUN-Bandera-wing's military arm, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. Historians and social scientists detail findings on interwar and wartime Ukrainian nationalism as well as its contemporary public and scholarly interpretations and representations.