A Country in the Making Sean Penn’s surprising new documentary explores “extreme history” in war-torn Ukraine. Brian Stewart 29 Sep 2023 · 6 min read
Eight Hundred Years of Russian Despotism: An Interview with Orlando Figes In a new book, the historian traces modern Russian aggression to an apocalyptic mythology rooted deep in the nation’s past. Jonathan Kay 7 Jul 2023 · 9 min read
The Retreat from Moscow Prigozhin’s coup attempt raises a number of questions to which there are no reassuring answers. John Lloyd 27 Jun 2023 · 7 min read
World War Z A new book by historian Ian Garner investigates how the war in Ukraine is transforming Russia into a fascist society. John Lloyd 10 May 2023 · 10 min read
The Ukrainian Year Ukraine has been instrumental in restoring a focus on what matters to the people and elected leaders of the West. Jesse Inman 26 Feb 2023 · 4 min read
Ukraine’s Verdun Attritional trench warfare and the terrible logic of the sunk cost return to Europe. Robert Zaretsky 17 Feb 2023 · 4 min read
Mearsheimer: Rigor or Reaction? What John J. Mearsheimer gets wrong about Ukraine, international affairs, and much else besides. Matt Johnson 15 Feb 2023 · 21 min read
Democracy’s Trenches The idea that the war in Ukraine is not our business is seductive but dangerously mistaken. John Lloyd 4 Jan 2023 · 11 min read
A Strange and Brutal Country Adam Curtis’s new BBC series provides a unique insight into Russia’s late-twentieth-century collapse. Christopher J. Snowdon 24 Oct 2022 · 6 min read
Defying Russia’s Despot Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s new book offers a profile in courage. John Lloyd 20 Oct 2022 · 9 min read
Revolt Against the Modern World Putin is the offspring of a political culture based on insuperable adversity to democracy. Vladimir Tismaneanu 15 Oct 2022 · 4 min read
Red Letter Day How an unknown teacher from Leningrad took on Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev—and ultimately won. Robin Ashenden 29 Sep 2022 · 12 min read
Horseshoe Theory Comes to Ukraine Putin’s Western apologists don’t reflect the usual conflict between Left and Right—but rather comprise an example of both poles making common cause against the center. The Quillette Editorial Board 16 Sep 2022 · 7 min read
What the Left Keeps Getting Wrong About Ukraine Vapid bromides about peace and negotiation are no substitute for policy and a frank acknowledgement of Russia’s responsibility for the conflict. Matt Johnson 9 Sep 2022 · 9 min read
Idealist and Idiot Gorbachev’s legacy is partly to blame for the tyranny into which Russia has since slumped. John Lloyd 2 Sep 2022 · 9 min read