This is a timely and topical collection of research. . . .[The articles] provide the reader with an interesting snapshot of the current political relationships between the Russian state, Eurasianist proponents, and specific far right circles. . . .The shifting of international politics into a distinctively multi-polar phase guarantees the ongoing importance of Russia as an international actor and we need to keep developing our analysis of its behaviour. This includes being aware of weak critiques of it as either a fascist, or anti-imperialist state. This book is useful in delving into this through an oblique angle, its relationship with its own indigenous far right movements. * Actually Existing Barbarism *
Against this sad background, the appearance of this volume, edited by Marlene Laruelle, perhaps the world's foremost researcher of neo- and classical Eurasianism, is highly welcomed. Laruelle's essay collection is especially valuable as it combines a wide range of specific topics with particularly rich descriptive case analyses. . . .This volume's collection compiled by Laruelle fills a whole number of gaps in the mosaic of Russia's increasing integration into transnational extreme-right-wing networks. These well-researched papers provide...sufficient starting points for more directed research into specific episodes in neo-Eurasianism's relationship to the countries covered here. . . .Laruelle and her authors are to be congratulated for having, with this outstanding volume, given a crucial impulse to the emergence of a new sub-discipline of Russian nationalism studies that could be labelled 'neo-Eurasianism studies.' * Slavic Review *
Many of [the book's] chapters provide a good overview of Far Right developments in European countries. As a case in point, Vugar Imanbeyli's analysis of Turkish debates...is excellent in showing the facets of Turkish 'Eurasianism' as this ideology has appeared in recent decades. Similarly, Sofie Tipaldou provides a helpful, thorough presentation of how the Greek Golden Dawn has built on its neo-Nazi roots to acquire increased public presence. * Journal of Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society *
Marlene Laruelle has assembled an impressive team of authors, who show that Alexander Dugin's Eurasianism is best understood as an offshoot of the European Far Right, and not a product of Russia's distinctive cultural heritage. This makes for an interesting contribution to the far reaches of the history of European political thought. -- Peter Rutland, Wesleyan University
This collection contributes significantly to the burgeoning international field of comparative fascism studies, while also allowing some of the inner metapolitical logic of Putin's foreign policy to become transparent and intelligible. An important book which should be read by all those who claim to be experts on the machinations of contemporary Russia, and which finally puts some substance into vapid discussions of its 'fascism'. -- Roger Griffin, Oxford Brookes University
This well-designed volume fills a crucial gap in our understanding of the ideological (and sometimes personal) ties connecting Eurasianist philosophers in Russia (especially the infamous Alexander Dugin) with surging anti-immigrant and far-right ultranationalist political parties in Europe and Turkey. Marlene Laruelle assembles an international cast of experts to examine these questions with depth and nuance, focusing on implications for Putin's Kremlin and the evolving international order. A boon for scholars, this work will also serve as a reference for journalists and other analysts trying to understand the complexities of the Russian-European relationship today. -- Kimberly Marten, Barnard College, Columbia University
