History rarely repeats itself but it does offer instructive parallels that can be worth reflecting upon while endeavoring to decipher today’s momentous challenges. One such challenge is attempting to predict the behavior of Russia, which Winston Churchill memorably described as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” In pondering Russia’s oft-remarked insecurity — some would call it paranoia — it is useful to recall that in the course of its history, Russia has been attacked and/or occupied by Mongols, Turks, Poles, Prussians, Swedes, French, Japanese, Germans and, during the Russian Civil War, Britain and the United States sent...