Section: Intersection (EU)
Cultural Undercurrents in the Post Soviet Space
Society Most analytical work on Russia and the wider post soviet space defines the region in terms of democratic transition. Research questions largely hinge on why Russia, and many of its ex-soviet neighbours, have not successfully become democratic, or how long will it take for these countries to accomplish their transition, if ever. More...
How Russians Perceive Information War
Politics Russia has entered an era of confrontation. In general, its citizens do not feel safe after years of frosty relations with other states, and various high profile hunts for “internal enemies”. According to opinion polls carried out by the Levada Center in March 2016, 81 percent of Russians believe that the nation has enemies. It follows...
The CSTO in 2017 and how Russia exploits its allies
Security A high profile appointment in April this year passed by largely unnoticed: the Collective Security Treaty Organization — the CSTO — appointed a new Secretary General. Now heading up the organization is a former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia, Colonel-General Yuri Khachaturov. The Secretary-General’s...
Russia-Japan Talks Trundle On
Russia / World In late April, a state visit to Moscow by Japan’s prime minister caused little fanfare. Japan’s leader is Shinzo Abe, who met President Vladimir Putin for the sixteenth time. It was their fourth meeting in the last twelve months, a clockwork regularity which is unheard of when it comes to meetings between leaders of...
What the Public Thinks of Victory Day
Politics The Soviet Union’s struggle and ultimate victory in World War Two is still perceived by Russian citizens as the most important event of the 20th century. 80 percent of respondents surveyed in January of 2017 confirmed that they celebrated the 9th of May. The second most significant event is Yuri Gagarin’s space flight (58...
Thus Votes South Ossetia: A Referendum the Kremlin Would Prefer to Ignore
Russia / Europe Anatoly Bibilov has become the new de-facto president of South Ossetia — a Russia-backed separatist enclave in the Caucasus that most national governments still recognise as a region of Georgia. Speaking to the BBC before his inauguration, Bibilov declared himself “one hundred percent sure” that South Ossetia will become part of...
A Reckoning for Russia in Syria
Security Even if the United States had not bombed an airbase controlled by the Syrian government on April 7th, it would still be clear that Moscow is approaching a critical moment in Syria. Initial gains are looking less impressive as the conflict grinds on, and a rethink looks imminent and necessary for the Kremlin. Certainly, Russia has gained...
Are We All Losers?
Security Sam Charap and Tim Colton, two prominent American Russia watchers, have published a new book with an alarming title: Everyone Loses: The Ukraine Crisis and the Ruinous Contest for Post-Soviet Eurasia. Their main idea: the ongoing Russian–Ukraine conflict is unprecedented, because in classical terms, it is not a “win-lose” or even a...
Проигрывают не все
Security В начале марта в Вашингтоне прошла презентация новой книги известных американских экспертов по проблемам России и постсоветского пространства Сэма Чэрапа и Тима Коултона, которая вышла под алармистским заголовком “Все проигрывают». Основная идея авторов заключалась в том, что продолжающееся российско-украинское противостояние...
Putin Woos the American Fringe
Russia / World For the past few months, much of the media coverage threading Moscow’s influence among American polities has focused on the Kremlin’s relationship with those close to U.S. President Donald Trump. This, of course, is understandable, in so far as investigators are continuing to unwind the links between Trump’s...
