Orenstein's main argument-that Western countries are following the path of polarization long seen in the 'lands in between'-seems counterintuitive at first. But Orenstein ushers in a mass amount of evidence to support this narrative, laid out in a straightforward and easy-to-read manner. This book is a must-read for longtime students of Eastern Europe and those only now realizing its geopolitical significance.
Mitchell A. Orenstein is Professor of Russian and East European Studies at University of Pennsylvania and Senior Fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Eurasia Program. He is the author of three prize-winning books on postcommunist transitions and co-author of From Triumph to Crisis: Neoliberal Reform in Postcommunist Countries (with Hilary Appel).