Understanding Putin and the War in Ukraine
In his memoir SWIMMING the VOLGA, Zwack has noted that the deeply demoralizing period of the 1990s for the Russian population — Putin included — has direct impact on the very dangerous ongoing crisis between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S./NATO, which also affects the broader global order including challenges from China and Iran. In other words, the chaos and humiliation that Russians experienced after the Soviet collapse is precisely the grievance that fueled Putin’s rise and revanchist worldview — and the book puts readers inside that moment.
The Author’s Unique Credibility
Zwack served in Moscow as the Senior U.S. Defense Attaché to Russia during the pivotal years of 2012–2014, which included the Russian invasion of Ukraine, making him one of the nation’s leading experts on Russia. His perspective bridges the 1990s story in the book with the conflicts unfolding today.
Humanizing Ordinary Russians
At a time when Russia is largely viewed through the lens of geopolitical conflict, the book offers something rare: unmatched insight into the social, political, and economic currents that shaped modern Russia, providing a humanized perspective on a country in flux — reminding readers that Russian citizens are not the same as the Kremlin.
Context for U.S.-Russia Relations
SWIMMING the VOLGA deep-dives into the Gorbachev and Yeltsin years and offers sober, hopeful thoughts on possible ways of healing the deep divide the U.S. now has with Russia — a question that remains as urgent as ever given ongoing diplomatic tensions.
Explaining Why Democracy Failed to Take Hold
SWIMMING the VOLGA serves as a historical explanation for one of today’s most pressing questions: why didn’t Russia democratize? The story of Russia’s transition — where a nascent mafia extracted protection money from new businesses while most citizens watched their savings vanish in two massive ruble devaluations — shows how the promise of the post-Soviet era was systematically squandered. That failure laid the groundwork for the authoritarian system the world is contending with now.