Book Review
We publish reviews and speak about new books on international security issues
The «Great Game» Strategy: Russia and the USA in the New World
Mr. Herman Selyavin
2nd year Master’s student of the International Security Program (MGIMO University & PIR Center)
February 11, 2026
Today, we are pleased to share a review by Mr. Herman Selyavin, 2nd year Master’s student of the International Security Program (MGIMO University & PIR Center), of Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev’s monograph “The «Great Game» Strategy: Russia and the USA in the New World”
Evstafiev D. The «Great Game» Strategy: Russia and the USA in the New World. “Conceptual” Publishing house, 2024
ISBN 978-5-907844-56-8
The monograph by Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev “The “Great Game” Strategy. Russia And the USA in the New World” is a large-scale scientific work covering key aspects of Russian-American relations in the context of the transformation of the global world order. The book analyzes both the modern challenges facing Russia and the structural changes in the system of international relations, which the author examines through the prism of history, economics and politics.
The author points out that modern Russian-American relations have reached one of the most difficult stages in the last five decades. The reasons for this are both external factors, such as the degradation of the elites in the United States and the strengthening of transnational companies, and internal aspects, including Russia’s unsuccessful attempts in the 1990s to integrate into the global financial system controlled by the United States and its partners. This situation, according to Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev, is aggravated by Western countries ignoring Russia’s demands to ensure its security, which makes it impossible for the American political leadership to develop a long-term strategy for building a dialogue with Russia.
The key topic of the study is the examination of new challenges and threats associated with the transition to a multipolar world. The author focuses on how the United States, seeking to maintain its position, views Russia exclusively as a raw materials appendage and takes steps to weaken its economic and political independence. In this context, a historical retrospective is important (in particular, Zbigniew Brzezinski’s[1] concept of “the dominance of the American-centric world”, which is often mentioned in the book), which allows us to understand how such an attitude towards Russia was formed and why attempts to build a dialogue between the countries at the end of the 20th century were unsuccessful.
One of the main values of the book is its multi-layered structure. Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev does not limit himself to studying Russian-American relations. The author delves into the analysis of the role of other key players: the European Union, China, and even new supranational forms of international cooperation that are emerging in the context of the formation of a multipolar world.
An important aspect of the analysis in the monograph is the exposure of entrenched myths of geopolitics. Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev acts as a myth buster, questioning key mega-myths of international relations. One of these is the mega-myth of the “golden age” of detente, which in fact turned out to be a short-term period of temporary reduction of tension.
The Yalta-Potsdam system of international relations and the erroneous expectations of creating an equal polycentric world order in which all players are equal to each other also have a great influence on the perception of political reality. According to the author, the United States deliberately used propaganda methods for both domestic and foreign audiences to form a distorted perception of geopolitical reality, leaving the Soviet Union and then Russia within the false notion of America’s importance as a player in the international arena.
Only now, after 2019 or, to be more precise, after 2022, Russia has managed to go beyond these restrictions (or, as the author calls them, “flags”) and reconsider its foreign policy priorities. The EU, according to Dr. Dmitry Yevstafyev, is also one big mega-myth, the myth of “Greater Europe”. In fact, the European Union has lost its pragmatic approach to building relations with Russia and its political independence. The author emphasizes that the ideologicalization of the EU policy and its dependence on the United States have become the main factors weakening the positions of European countries in global competition.
Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev emphasizes that the European Union has become a buffer zone between the United States and Russia, which has been using cheap Russian energy resources for many years. A number of modern European elites, under the influence of American propaganda, are demonstrating an aggressive attitude towards Russia, especially in the context of its actions in Ukraine. This is explained not only by the long-term propaganda influence of the United States, but also by Europe’s inability to accept the loss of access to cheap energy resources, which has hit its economy and political stability.
Dr. Dmitry Yevstafyev believes that one of the main mistakes of the Russian leadership has been the Eurocentric nature of foreign policy over a long period of time. He also calls Russia’s perception of Europe as an independent subject of international relations erroneous. In his opinion, this has distorted the cognizance of the importance of other players in the international arena and excessively elevated the role of the United States as an uncontested adversary. The author calls this idea illusory, arguing that the real “weight” of the United States in world politics is often exaggerated.
Another important topic is the role of the conflict in Ukraine in the aggravation of Russian-American relations. Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev argues that the current conflict has become a catalyst for an internal crisis in the United States, drawing them into a confrontation from which they cannot escape without losses. According to the author, subjective factors and political inconsistency of the West only exacerbate this crisis. Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev concludes that the current conflict in Ukraine has destroyed the economic integrity of Europe and generated internal political instability both in the European states themselves and in supranational structures, and its political dependence on the United States prevents the creation of a balanced dialogue with Russia.
China also plays a significant role in Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev’s analysis. Beijing’s integration into the global economic system is causing strong resistance from the United States, which is leading to the formation of new economic blocs and escalation of tensions. Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev focuses on China’s role as a key counterweight to the United States. Despite all the difficulties, Beijing is successfully implementing economic projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative, which are capable of competing with Western financial and economic influence. In this context, the author argues that Russia and China should focus on creating macro-regions of influence that will ensure balance in the context of the new geopolitical order.
Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev emphasizes that in the current anarchy, no state is capable of offering a universal model of the future. The concept of polycentricity in its current understanding, as the author notes, is doomed to failure due to the lack of a coordinated position between countries.
One of the book’s unconditional advantages, which speaks to the deep preparation of the American political scientist, is the competent consideration of domestic political factors in the United States that directly influence American foreign policy strategy.
Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev’s monograph is not limited to theoretical analysis. It offers practical recommendations for Russia, including: (1) Revision of domestic policy, restructuring of the management system and strengthening of technological independence; (2) Creation of alternative economic mechanisms to ensure sustainable development; (3) Consolidation of resources to protect national sovereignty. In general, the author emphasizes the need to develop new approaches to international relations that take into account both historical experience and modern realities.
“The “Great Game” Strategy. Russia And the USA in the New World”by Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev is a deep and multi-layered analysis of key aspects of international relations, presented through the prism of Russian-American interactions. Its content helps not only to understand current geopolitical challenges, but also suggests ways to overcome them.
This scientific work is distinguished by its rich content, extensive coverage of issues and deep insight into the essence of the problems, which makes it a significant contribution to the study of international relations. Digressions and an abundance of footnotes to famous political scientists and experts in the field of international relations make the perception of the text more accessible to the reader, saturate the content with high-quality texture.
Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev’s monograph will be useful both for specialists in the field of international relations and for a wide audience interested in global politics. It not only explains what lies behind today’s Russian-American confrontation, but also helps to understand how these processes influence the formation of the future world order.
Keywords: International Security; Russia-USA
RUF
E16/SHAH – 26/02/11
[1] Zbigniew Brzezinski – a Polish-American diplomat and political scientist. For a long time, he was one of the leading ideologists of US foreign policy – author’s note.
