Defense Policies of East-Central European Countries After 1989

This book clarifies the ways in which the defense policies of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia have responded to the new atmosphere on the edge of Europe, in light of Russian aggressiveness during and after the 2013-2014 Ukrainian-Crimean crisis. -- .

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The 2014 Ukrainian-Crimean crisis has raised serious questions in the West about Russian motivations and future policy directions. Now more than ever, it is imperative to explore the defensive perceptions, reactions, and preparations of neighbouring countries, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. Is there a convergence of their approaches along similar paths, or do their different cultures and historical experiences prefigure a divergence of their defense policies? While Slovakia, Hungary and Czech Republic all seem to have little concern about Russia’s policies in Ukraine, the Polish response has been uniquely strong and militarized. This book will explore reasons for the different responses to the crisis. -- .