Avant-propos

This 2025 foreword by Cristian Preda argues that war, rather than simple transition, fundamentally defines the history of post-communist Central and Eastern Europe. He traces how military conflicts in former Yugoslavia and the USSR shaped new states. While NATO and EU integration offered a brief peace interlude between 1999 and 2013, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ended this era. Ultimately, military security remains essential for European belonging as Russia pursues revived imperialistic ambitions against the West. THIS ABSTRACT IS GENERATED WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.