JM Book Blog
3/26/2007
Kinvig: Churchill's Crusade
Clifford Kinvig: Churchill's Crusade: The British Invasion of Russia 1918-1920
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Hambledon Press 2006
ISBN: 978-1852854775
The complex and confusing post-I WW world is an extremely interesting case for the study of the interplay of ideology and power politics. Years through 1918 to 1920 saw among other things a world war, the break-up of several empires, a failed Allied intervention into the Russian civil war and finally the birth of the first communist state.
Kinvig's book about the intervention (and especially the British role in it) is a fascinating read. He has used primary material, letters from soldiers etc. to describe the campaign that has been in different sources describes as a "tragicomedy". The difficult conditions and the confusing political situation led to the disilllusionement of soldiers and inevitably to the abandoning of what had become a mismanaged crusade.
Churchill, ideologically a solid anti-communist, fought also for a favorable balance of power: initially, the necessities of war demanded the Eastern Front be kept active and later, after the Armistice, Churchill's aim was to secure a friendly Russia in the future. He failed in both tasks. His 'big hand, small map strategy' was based on undue optimism and faith on the Russian White movement.
Second Opinion: John Ure / Times Online ¶ 3/26/2007 02:26:00 ip.
Clifford Kinvig: Churchill's Crusade: The British Invasion of Russia 1918-1920Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Hambledon Press 2006
ISBN: 978-1852854775
The complex and confusing post-I WW world is an extremely interesting case for the study of the interplay of ideology and power politics. Years through 1918 to 1920 saw among other things a world war, the break-up of several empires, a failed Allied intervention into the Russian civil war and finally the birth of the first communist state.
Kinvig's book about the intervention (and especially the British role in it) is a fascinating read. He has used primary material, letters from soldiers etc. to describe the campaign that has been in different sources describes as a "tragicomedy". The difficult conditions and the confusing political situation led to the disilllusionement of soldiers and inevitably to the abandoning of what had become a mismanaged crusade.
Churchill, ideologically a solid anti-communist, fought also for a favorable balance of power: initially, the necessities of war demanded the Eastern Front be kept active and later, after the Armistice, Churchill's aim was to secure a friendly Russia in the future. He failed in both tasks. His 'big hand, small map strategy' was based on undue optimism and faith on the Russian White movement.
Second Opinion: John Ure / Times Online ¶ 3/26/2007 02:26:00 ip.
3/09/2007
Travel: UK & Balkans Tour
R's stag night in Liverpool was a smashing success - going out with the lads couldn't have been better. I got to visit the legendary Anfield Kop! Liverpool celebrated a stylish 4-0 win over Sheffield United, old Kop favorite Robbie Fowler #9 scoring twice in front of us.
From London we commenced our classy trip to the Balkans, Albania being the prime target. We spent most of our time in the capital Tirana - witnessing Kreshnick Qato win his boxing battle, having a night out with ex-pats and eating at the surreal Colonat, Albanian for McDonald's. Tirana backpackers can be highly recommended. From Tirana we set out on a roadtrip to Skopje, Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M) and to the troubled Serbian province of Kosovo. We drove over the beautiful mountains and the contradictory countryside: beautiful landscapes destroyed by large-scale littering and the heritage of Albania's paranoid communist leader Enver Hoxha: the 600 000 cement bunkers.
Pristina, the capital of Kosovo the locals have nicknamed UNMIKistan, was an interesting place to visit. The most realistic thing to do, in my view, is to grant Kosovo her independence. Replacing UN administration with the EU's would tie all the actors: Albania, Kosovo and Serbia towards an european future. Special emphasis must be placed on making sure the historical monuments and places of national significance to the Serb minority are respected. With good luck and patience, give 15 to 20 years and the European family will have a couple of more member states from the Balkans adding to its impressive array of different cultures and traditions.
¶ 3/09/2007 07:36:00 ip.
R's stag night in Liverpool was a smashing success - going out with the lads couldn't have been better. I got to visit the legendary Anfield Kop! Liverpool celebrated a stylish 4-0 win over Sheffield United, old Kop favorite Robbie Fowler #9 scoring twice in front of us.From London we commenced our classy trip to the Balkans, Albania being the prime target. We spent most of our time in the capital Tirana - witnessing Kreshnick Qato win his boxing battle, having a night out with ex-pats and eating at the surreal Colonat, Albanian for McDonald's. Tirana backpackers can be highly recommended. From Tirana we set out on a roadtrip to Skopje, Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M) and to the troubled Serbian province of Kosovo. We drove over the beautiful mountains and the contradictory countryside: beautiful landscapes destroyed by large-scale littering and the heritage of Albania's paranoid communist leader Enver Hoxha: the 600 000 cement bunkers.
Pristina, the capital of Kosovo the locals have nicknamed UNMIKistan, was an interesting place to visit. The most realistic thing to do, in my view, is to grant Kosovo her independence. Replacing UN administration with the EU's would tie all the actors: Albania, Kosovo and Serbia towards an european future. Special emphasis must be placed on making sure the historical monuments and places of national significance to the Serb minority are respected. With good luck and patience, give 15 to 20 years and the European family will have a couple of more member states from the Balkans adding to its impressive array of different cultures and traditions.
Lieven: The Baltic Revolution
Anatol Lieven: The Baltic Revolution - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Path to Independence
Anatol Lieven: The Baltic Revolution - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Path to IndependencePaperback: 454 pages
Publisher: Yale University Press 1993
ISBN: 0-300-05552-8
Written right after the baltic revolutions in 1993, Lieven's book should be judged by our contemporary view, benefitting from hindsight, only partially. Lieven's pessimism seems justified when one looks at the long history of the Baltic region and its many struggles on its cultural border. However, the republics, now member states of both EU and Nato and firmly integrated to the West are no longer "debatable territory". Now the goal, for Estonia for example is to become one of the five richest nations in Europe. Mission in surviving post-communist chaos has turned in a very short period of time into a mission showing the way for the rest of Europe. An achievement worth applauding and an experience worth exporting.
Anatol Lieven, the author of Ethical Realism (2007), a book I believe gathers the best of Realist IR theory and plain common sense, works for the New America Foundation.
"Diplomacy should certainly be inspired by morality, but its chief moral duty lies in the avoidance of evil consequences, not in the celebration of fine ideals." p. 380
Second Opinion: Czeslaw Milosz / The New York Review of Books
¶ 3/09/2007 06:32:00 ip.
