Analysis

This listing contains all the analytical materials posted on the Russia Matters website. These include: RM Exclusives, commissioned by Russia Matters exclusively for this website; Recommended Reads, deemed particularly noteworthy by our editorial team; Partner Posts, originally published by our partners elsewhere; and Future Policy Leaders, pieces by promising young scholars and policy thinkers. Content can be filtered by genre and subject-specific criteria and is updated often. Gradually we will be adding older Recommended Reads and Partner Posts dating back as far as 2011.
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INF, New Start and What Really Matters for US-Russian Nuclear Arms Control

Hans M. Kristensen February 24, 2017 RM Exclusives
The U.S. should not abandon nuclear arms control or relieve Russia from treaty obligations. Instead, it must maintain strategic stability with a mix of arms control and a safe, secure retaliatory capability.
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The Trump Administration and Nuclear Arms Control Treaties

Steven Pifer December 02, 2016 Recommended Reads
Before backing away from any arms control agreements, the Trump administration should consider the consequences for U.S. national security. For one thing, the recommendations could prompt a new arms race—and give Russia a big head-start.
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America's Awesome Military

Michael O'Hanlon and David Petraeus September 30, 2016 Recommended Reads
U.S. defense experts call to maintain, if not increase, U.S. military budget while diverting funding to areas with most need.
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Warsaw: NATO's Theater of the Absurd

Harvey M. Sapolsky and Elizabeth S. Barnes July 08, 2016 Recommended Reads
Russia is not about to invade a NATO country and risk war with an alliance that possesses a combined population of nearly nine hundred million, is built around the vastly superior military power of the United States, and has access to the industrial capabilities of both Europe and North America.
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Back From the Brink: Toward Restraint and Dialogue Between Russia and the West

Deep Cuts Commission June 20, 2016 Recommended Reads
In its report, the Deep Cuts Commission provides recommendations aimed at preventing any potential catastrophic military escalation between Russia and the West.
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Seven Ways a New Cold War with Russia Will Be Different

Paul J. Saunders May 11, 2014 Recommended Reads
Would a confrontation between the U.S. and Russia be another Cold War or something else entirely? Saunders' seven key differences suggest that such an event may not work in the ways that many expect.
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When All You Have Is a Hammer: Strategic Nuclear Forces and the Ukraine Crisis

Andrew Szarejko and Kingston Reif May 09, 2014
While an American response is needed to Russian aggression in Ukraine, it should not include the expansion or acceleration of nuclear facilities in Central and Eastern Europe.
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MAD About You: It's Time to Turn Mutually Assured Destruction Into Mutually Assured Stability

Ellen Tauscher and Igor Ivanov June 14, 2013 Recommended Reads
Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin must agree to move away from traditional doctrines of nuclear policy.

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