Works
Book Review
History of Eurasia and Eurasianism
The terms Eurasia and Eurasianism have recently been used quite extensively. This book explores the origin and meanings of the terms.
Book Review
Kazakhstan’s history and great thinkers
Kazakhstan may appear insignificant on the global chessboard but it offers important lessons for national identity for people in the entire Central Asian region and beyond.
Book Review
Western writers’ weak understanding of other societies
Russian-Iranian relations form the backdrop of this review in which Western writers are found to lack understanding of other societies because they have little knowledge of local languages, culture or access to primary sources. Dmitry Shlapentokh, associate professor at Indiana State University, South Bend, Indiana, reviews Russia-Iran Relations Since the End of the Cold War by Eric D. Moore (Routledge, 2014; 242 pp., $8.84 hbk).
Book Review
Tiptoeing over some crucial details about ISIS
The takfiri groun Daesh that also goes by the name ISIS or ISIL is much in the news. This book by Andrew Hosken sheds some light on the group but skips crucial details.
Dmitry Shlapentokh reviews Andrew Hosken’s Empire of Fear: Inside the Islamic State (Oneworld, London, UK, 2015; 304 pages).
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Special Reports
Background to the Russia-Iran S-300 deal
Will the long-delayed Russian supply of S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Iran ever near resolution? A large delegation of Iranian defence officials was in Moscow to attend the International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS) air show in the last week of August. The show is held every two years at the Ramenskoye Airport 40km (25 miles) southeast of Moscow. The Iranian offi-cials also had discussions with their Russian counterparts about the delivery of the S-300 systems for which a contract was signed in 2007. Dmitry Shla-pentokh provides background to the Russia-Iran S-300 deal.