Section: Intersection (EU)
Dartmouth Conference: from escalation to dialogue?
A question is haunting the ever-worsening relationship between Russian and the United States: how low can it go? Diplomats are waging a tit-for-tat war of retaliation, closing consulates, slashing numbers of staff, and even eliminating parking spaces near embassies. Moscow and Washington accuse each other of violating arms control agreements. The...
Why Russia Still Has Conscription
Security This year’s autumn round of conscription to the Russian army is now underway. As of October 1st, Russia’s military is hoping to find and recruit 110-120 thousand fresh troops. For many young people, military conscription is no longer a scary prospect: they have been admitted to universities and can live without thinking about...
Russian Media’s Homage to Catalonia
Russia / Europe The referendum in Catalonia and the harsh actions of police against the protestors have put the Kremlin in an awkward position. On the one hand, this is an excellent occasion to once again accuse the West of all the usual deadly sins, to herald the decline of European democracy, and to show TV audiences in Russia that their own...
The Russian State’s New Surprising Crusade … Against “Orthodox Extremists”
Society It seems that the Russian state is preparing to get tough on various hardline, fringe followers of the Orthodox Church. Columnists in the opposition media and panic-stricken citizens on social media have already dubbed these Russian citizens “Orthodox extremists” or “new fundamentalists” Alexander Kalinin, for instance, the leader of the...
What happens when Chechens seek asylum in Europe?
Russia / Europe According to the UNHCR, a total of 97,810 Russian citizens applied for asylum or some form of international protection in 2016. Europe has been and remains a popular destination for humanitarian migration from Russia. Across the 28 EU countries, one in five requests for asylum or some other form of protection filed by Russian...
Kadyrov’s Myanmar offensive and its consequences
Politics The protests by Russia’s Muslim population against the oppression of their brothers in faith in Myanmar are somewhat reminiscent of Soviet demonstrations against the wars in Vietnam or Grenada – the form and the essence do not coincide. Judging by their form, the protests are devoted to international problems. When one looks at the...
‘Alternative for Germany’ and the Kremlin: A marriage of convenience?
Russia / Europe ‘Alternative for Germany’ (Alternative für Deutschland, AfD), a political party founded by Eurosceptics in 2013, which emerged in its current political shape in 2015, has became a notable political force in German politics within a short space of time. Representatives of AfD have already been elected to 13 of the 16...
What about Pensions?
Economy Judging by his statements, President Vladimir Putin does not plan to retire any time soon. Yet many of his potential voters are worried about their own retirement prospects. Will their pensions be sizeable and reliable? At what age can Russians count on receiving them? During a televised call-in show held in mid-June, the president left...
Is Russia Thinking About a Pivot Back to Europe?
Russia / World The ongoing “diplomatic war” between Russia and the US is getting worse. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently stated that the US diplomatic mission to Russia might be cut by another 155 people. That is on top of the 755 cut already. This Monday, it was revealed how else Russia might respond to the US closure of Russia’s...
The Deep Roots of Russia’s Young Protestors
Politics This year’s anti-corruption protests first flared up over four months ago. But social media and traditional news media are still abuzz. What’s keeping the conversation alive? Largely, a fascination with how young the protestors were. After the first photographs from the protests were published, the media were flooded with...
