In this monograph, the authors state that Russia planned the war against Georgia in August 2008 aiming for the annexation of Abkhazia, weakening the Saakashvili regime, and prevention of NATO enlargement. According to them, while Russia won the campaign, it also exposed its own military as badly needing reform. The war also demonstrated weaknesses of the NATO and the European Union security systems.

June 2011. Regular print reproduction is in binder, 29 cm. Strategic Studies Institute.

Russia's geopolitical goals -- Pre-conditions for the war -- Military implications -- Russian performance in the war -- Joint operations : an assessment of operational coordination -- Russian lessons learned in the war with Georgia -- Military modernization 2 years later -- Changes in Russian military doctrine -- Geopolitical lessons from the war -- The Russia-Georgia war aftermath : regional implications -- Implications of the Russia-Georgia War for Iranian contingencies -- Broader repercussions of the war -- Georgia in the Afghanistan supply chain -- Russian troop movements and activity in Georgia : fomenting political unrest -- Lessons from the war's naval operations : the Mistral assault ship sale -- Russian deployment of S-300 missiles in the Caucasus.