Polar Institute Reading List
The Polar Institute's "What We're Reading" staff book reviews offer reflections on books that have contributed to our understanding of the complex dynamics shaping the Arctic and Antarctic.
1. Midnight in Moscow: A Memoir from the Front Lines of Russia’s War Against the West
“We need to stop digging the hole we are in.”
Former US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan often used this phrase to describe the state of US-Russia relations in the critical months leading up to Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In his new book, Midnight in Moscow, Sullivan recounts his tenure as Ambassador from 2020 to 2022. At the time of Sullivan’s appointment, the bipartisan trust he commanded was second to none. However, that trust—and America's commitment to its core values—would be relentlessly tested throughout the duration of his diplomatic mission, by forces foreign and domestic.
The extraordinary circumstances of Sullivan’s tenure in Moscow are undeniable. His writing details historic deviations from diplomatic norms, including his relocation from the traditional Ambassador’s residence, Spaso House, to a more secure townhouse near the US Embassy. Sullivan describes the constant pressure of safeguarding his team against Russian intelligence tactics, espionage, harassment, and assault. By Sullivan’s account, Russian leadership is both calculated and erratic. He provides a rare glimpse into President Vladimir Putin, the Russian ruling class, and the Kremlin’s tactics to maintain power. Surmounting usurpations against Ukraine and by extent, challenges to U.S. leadership, indicate a broader looming conflict– the fight to control resources and strategic positioning on the world stage.
Midnight in Moscow is both a personal memoir and a vital historical record. Sullivan’s reflections on the failures of diplomacy, along with his candid assessments of both the Trump and Biden administrations, make this book a must-read for those seeking to understand the driving factors which led to the Ukraine invasion. Sullivan’s insights offer a stark warning of the Arctic’s expanding geopolitical significance, where the US must confront Russia’s escalating ambitions—an issue that will shape not just regional stability but global security in the years to come.
Polar Institute
Since its inception in 2017, the Polar Institute has become a premier forum for discussion and policy analysis of Arctic and Antarctic issues, and is known in Washington, DC and elsewhere as the Arctic Public Square. The Institute holistically studies the central policy issues facing these regions—with an emphasis on Arctic governance, climate change, economic development, scientific research, security, and Indigenous communities—and communicates trusted analysis to policymakers and other stakeholders. Read more
