New Book: The Russia Trap: How Our Shadow War with Russia Could Spiral Into Nuclear Catastrophe

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The Center for the National Interest is pleased to announce the publication of a new book by Vice President & Director of Studies George Beebe entitled The Russia Trap: How Our Shadow War with Russia Could Spiral into Nuclear Catastrophe. George’s book offers sober analysis of America’s deteriorating relationship with Russia, describes the mistakes made by both sides that allowed the relationship to degrade as it has, and offers meaningful prescriptions to help reduce the risk of accidental conflict.

 Every American president since the end of the Cold War has called for better relations with Russia. But each has seen relations get worse by the time he left office. Now the two countries are facing off in a virtual war being fought without clear goals or boundaries.

Why? Many say it is because Washington has been slow to wake up to Russian efforts to destroy democracy in America and the world.

But a former head of Russia analysis at the CIA says that this misunderstands the problem. George Beebe argues that new game-changing technologies, disappearing rules of the game, and distorted perceptions on both sides are combining to lock Washington and Moscow into an escalatory spiral that they do not recognize. All the pieces are in place for a World War I-type tragedy that could be triggered by a small, unpredictable event. The Russia Trap shows that anticipating this danger is the most important step in preventing it.

The book was published by Thomas Dunne Books on September 3, 2019 and is available in bookstores and online now.