Ukrainian Foreign and Security Policy: Theoretical and Comparative Perspectives by J. D. P. Moroney T. Kuzio M. Molchanov (review)

Abstract

REVIEWS 123 could not have been bettered. While Deletant has a long establishedrecord for his work on Romania, dating back to the Communist era and Nicolai Ceau?escu's Securitate, the excellent Kieran Williams is venturing into relativelynew territory.Together, they explore the territorywith the greatest accomplishment.The authorshave traced the developments surroundingthe security apparatusesunder consideration in some detail using open sources and have produced a strong empirical and comparative study of Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakiaand theirCommunist antecedents. There is no equivalentbook, so it seems almostpointlessto saythatthisbook is the best of its kind but its kind should be understood to be a broader class than merely books on these formerCommunist countries'securityand intelligence services. It is an excellent book as a study of Communist and former Communist countries and it is an excellent book as a study of security and intelligence services.Indeed, one of its notable strengthsis the fine discussion given to the use of the terms 'security' and 'intelligence.' The conceptual approach here shows understandingandjudgement. These passagescould or shouldbe thebasisforseriousdiscussionon allcoursesdealingwithintelligence and securityaffairs not because their intrinsicquality and strength makes them right,butbecause theyaddressallthe rightangles.Not onlyis thevolume intellectuallysharp,but it is also compelling and contemporary.In particular, it is to the authors' credit that developments such as weak links in the newly enlarged NATO are covered (for example, there was a problem during the Kosovo operations in I999, when Pragueproved to be an embarrassmentby giving away vital information on those operations, on Iraq and on personnel from other countries notably the UK). No sooner had the Czech Republic joined the Alliance than it was demonstrating precisely the problems faced in former Communist countries in making the transition to democracy and to NATO and the EU. The authors not only get this into the book and get it right, but they also manage to explain it and situate it in a context of internal rivalries. This is testimony to the calibre of the authors and the fullness and reliability of an exemplary volume. This is one of those excellent volumes that perhaps too few people will read, finding themselves put off by the 'secret' subject matter. They should not be: this is a model book in terms of conceptual command and of comparative empirical scope. It would be hard to better and really ought to be read widely by all interested in the countries covered, in the study of former Communist countries in Europe and their westward transition, and in the study of intelligence and security services in their social-political context. It might also usefully be read by anyone interested in how to write an academic volume on a difficult and contemporary subject of any kind. king's CollegeLondoni JAMES Gow Moroney, J. D. P., Kuzio T. and Molchanov M. (eds). Ukrainian Foreign and Security Policy. Theoretical and Comparative Perspectives. Praeger, Westport, CT, and London, 2002. 298 Pp. Tables. Notes. Bibliography. Index. [58.50. THERE are now many descriptive,essentiallychronological books on Ukrainian foreignpolicy on the market.This volume, however, claims its raison d'etre 124 SEER, 82, I, 2004 isthatit 'examinesthe orientationand trendsof Ukraine'sforeignand security policy from the perspective of severaldifferentand often opposing schools of international relations theory. It is, in short, an attempt to link area studies and internationalrelationstheory througha focus on Ukraine'sforeignpolicy orientation' (pp. 2-3). The contributors indeed draw on a variety of IR theories, although most incline to 'constructivism' over 'realism'. On the whole, the book sensiblyavoidsseekingan artificiallynarrowedconsensusand there is much that is interestingand useful amongst the conflictingviews (or, as Moroney puts it on page 7, 'widearrayof plausibleperspectives')expressed in the volume. Some contributors claim to see an underlying consistency in Ukraine's foreign policy since I99i; to others 'Ukrainian foreign policy is that of oscillation' (p. 227). Some see that consistency as maintaining an underlying pro-Western course; others see an inevitable balancing act. However, the theoretical pluralismencouraged by the editors does not necessarilyproduce divergent opinions given the constraining reality of Ukrainian circumstance . As Paul D'Anieri wisely points out, 'the same policy patternsseem to validate both power politics and constructivistapproaches. Currently, both internal identity politics and external geopolitics motivate Ukraine towards the same policy:workto establishclose...