2017/12/21 by Andrew S. Bowen · 2 citations
Social Sciences · #European and Russian Geopolitical Military Strategies #Post-Soviet Geopolitical Dynamics #International Relations and Foreign Policy
paper · doi:10.1080/01402390.2017.1413550
openalex publication_date 2017/12/21 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/03/12
What were Russia’s objectives in Eastern Ukraine, and why was it seemingly unable to achieve a successful or decisive outcome? In contrast to Russia’s seizure of Crimea, the uprising in Eastern Ukraine was marked by disorganization and chaos. Using proxy and surrogate actors, along with military exercises and the injection of Russian troops, Russia sought to institutionalize a political entity inside Ukraine to influence its domestic politics. In this article, I analyze the mechanisms by which Russia attempted to implement, and later salvage, its strategy. The article contributes to clearer theoretical and practical understanding of limited force in coercive diplomacy, signaling, and a more rigorous treatment of the role and uses of proxy actors.