This book is a rarity: It is both theoretically comprehensive and practically relevant, detailed in terminology yet coherent in narrative. It is accessible to readers new to deterrence theory while also expanding the horizons of those with substantial experience.

Adamsky coins the phrase “deterrence à la Russe” (2) to capture the contemporary Russian theory and application of deterrence and compellence. His analysis is grounded in scholarship on strategic culture and deterrence because “in order to understand the coercion strategy of a given actor, one must filter it through the lens of strategic culture” (18). The author traces Russian deterrence thinking from the Cold War to today, offering a compelling story that explains the cultural, historical, and psychological peculiarities of deterrence à la Russe and their practical implications in the Ukraine and Syria wars. The book is exceptionally well organized and densely written, sometimes resembling a political-military dictionary as it dissects terms ranging from “reflexive control” (62) to “reasonable sufficiency” (79). The reader walks away with an understanding of how quickly Russian strategic thinkers, despite the Soviets not developing a sophisticated deterrence doctrine, have caught up with their Western counterparts.