The latest book by the famous Russian historian, published posthumously, examines in detail the history of the development of the Russian army and navy in relation to the foreign policy plans of tsarism, analyzes the goals and results of the implementation of military and naval programs in the period between the Russo-Japanese and First World Wars. The study allowed the author to offer his own answer to the question of the extent of foresight of the political elite of tsarist Russia. Studying the period from the Portsmouth Peace to the First World War allows us to understand why Russia entered such a bloody war, the defeat in which led to socio-economic and political consequences that shook Russia for decades after the signing of the Brest Peace.