Since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia's efforts to define itself as well as to reknit the Soviet space has generated political and scholarly attention in the West as well as in Russia. At the center of interest is "Eurasianism," which serves to define Russia as both European and Asian and as a scaffold for various projects to integrate former Soviet republics. Defining "Eurasianism" as an ideology, Pizzolo (LUISS Guido Carlo Univ., Italy) addresses the concept in the context of geopolitical theories, notably those of Halford Mackinder and Nicholas J. Spykman. This covers familiar ground, but his narrative on Aleksandr Dugin's "neo-Eurasianism" is a useful study of the more controversial aspects of "Eurasianism." Among other things, Pizzolo discusses Dugin's "Fourth Political Theory," a peculiar melding of liberalism, fascism, and Marxism that is intended to replace Western Atlanticism as a dominant world order. The international system, Dugin argues, is becoming multipolar. Pizzolo also addresses Dugin's much-criticized advocacy of Russian imperialism. Pizzolo's study is well documented with a bibliography rich in Russian sources. The book is strongly recommended for all university readers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty.

Choice Reviews

“Eurasianism: An Ideology for the Multipolar World represents a useful study to understand the dynamics of the current international system in its evolution towards a post-unipolar context. By analyzing the Eurasianist doctrine and the main geopolitical theories behind it, Pizzolo addresses all the relevant sources and cites the most important authors from the field. The book embodies a valuable tool and a noteworthy contribution for the investigation of international relations.”

Gabriele Natalizia, La Sapienza University of Rome

“The twenty-first century and multipolar world need formulas of understanding in terms of the reality of international politics and post-ideological new paradigms: among them, ‘Eurasia’ is not only a geographical paradigm, but also a longstanding cultural reference for the Russian world. Within this book, ‘Eurasianism’ is explained as the essential lens to read both the Russian soul and Russia’s links with neighbors and other countries.”

Andrea Carteny, La Sapienza University of Rome