What Went Wrong? Russia’s Lost Opportunity and the Path to Ukraine
Ebook
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 ushered in a tumultuous period for Russia and Ukraine. The Soviet Union broke apart, Communism was exposed as morally bankrupt, and Russian leaders turned to the West for help. In an astonishing development, Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin invited a group of American evangelicals to give advice on restoring morality to Russia. The nation was moving toward democratic and religious freedoms until, one decade later, Vladimir Putin abruptly reversed course. He labeled most religious organizations as "foreign agents" and set in motion an aggressive plan to restore the pride of the "Russian world." Putin's alliance with the Russian Orthodox Church, and his hostility to true democracy, led to the brutal invasion of Ukraine, which had opted for freedom and democracy. Other books have analyzed the economic and social dynamics in Russia and Ukraine after 1991. This one chronicles a previously untold story: the role religion played in the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the rise of a newly autocratic Russia, and the emergence of democracy in Ukraine. What lay behind the radically different paths chosen by two former Soviet republics?
“Prepare to embark on an enthralling journey through the pivotal last three decades with What Went Wrong? Crafted by the dynamic duo, Philip Yancey and John Bernbaum, individuals who bore witness to the era’s most defining moments, this book guarantees an unparalleled exploration of the intricate facets of post-Soviet Russia. Immerse yourself, ride the wave of emotions, and uncover the profound changes in Russia that once again challenge the global geopolitical landscape.”
—Sergey N. Rakhuba, president, Mission Eurasia
“What Went Wrong? is a superb book—thoughtful and informed, wise and riveting, and oh-so-timely. Philip Yancey and John Bernbaum, having both spent time in Russia and Ukraine, know of what they speak. What Went Wrong? is a deeply personal testimony by two extraordinary individuals, men of deep Christian faith, and a contribution to our understanding of the history of our times.”
—Peter Wehner, senior fellow, The Trinity Forum
“In October 1991, a delegation of Christian leaders met with President Mikhail Gorbachev, KGB officials, and other political leaders, journalists, and Russian Christians. The Soviet Union was collapsing, and a turn toward democracy seemed to be emerging. Now, four decades later, Russia is an authoritarian state, whose president, Vladimir Putin, attacked independent, democratic Ukraine in 2022 where war rages on. What went wrong? Noted scholars John Bernbaum and Philip Yancey deftly explore that question in political and cultural terms.”
—Anita Deyneka, author of Christians in the Shadow of the Kremlin
- Title: What Went Wrong? Russia’s Lost Opportunity and the Path to Ukraine
- Authors: Philip Yancey, John A. Bernbaum
- Publisher: Cascade Books
- Print Publication Date: 2024
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781666747997, 9781666747980, 166674798X, 9781666747973, 1666747971, 1666747998
- Resource ID: LLS:9781666747997
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-02-15T21:48:44Z
Philip Yancey’s twenty-five books, including Where the Light Fell and What’s So Amazing about Grace, have sold over twenty million copies.
John A. Bernbaum founded and served as president of the Russian-American Christian University in Moscow. In a career focused on higher education, he has worked for more than thirty years with schools in both Russia and Ukraine.