Event: Russia's Military Revival

Date of Recording: 26/11/2018 Organised by the War Studies Department and the Russian and Eurasian Security Research Group. Description: "Russian annexation of Crimea and the subsequent air campaign over Syria took the world by surprise. The capabilities and efficiency of Moscow’s armed forces during both operations signalled to the world that Russia was back in business as a significant military actor on the international stage. Whilst the West must adjust to the reality of a modernised and increasingly powerful Russian military, Dr Renz argues that the renaissance of Russian military might and its implications for the balance of global power can only be fully understood within a wider historical context. Assessing developments in Russian Great Power thinking, military capabilities, Russian strategic thought and views on the use of force throughout the post-Soviet era, this talk will show that rather than signifying a sudden Russian military resurgence, recent developments are consistent with longstanding trends in Russian military strategy and foreign policy." Bio: Dr Bettina Renz is Senior Lecturer in International Security at the University of Nottingham’s School of Politics and International Relations. Following an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship at Birmingham, she lectured in Defence Studies for King’s 3College London (Royal Air Force College) before being appointed to her current post in 2007. Her main area of expertise is contemporary Russian security and defence policy with a particular interest in post-Soviet reforms of the military and security sector. Her book, 'Russia's Military Revival' was published by Polity Press in 2018. ______________________________ A podcast with Bettina Renz and Natasha Kuhrt will be released next Friday (7 December 2018) ______________________________ For more news and information on upcoming events, please visit our website at KCL.AC.UK/WARSTUDIES.