Strong Economy, Weak Democracy
On Fareed Zakaria’s blog on CNN, there is an interesting short post by political scientists Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith of NYU, taking an excerpt from their new book. The argument is very basic, but suggests an interesting research topic – does democracy become endangered when an economic boom is resource based and […]
Does Russia Really Want to Own Europe?
Russian foreign policy has been a runaway success in disaggregating European states through energy, business, and lobbying. But with the possible bailout of a disastrous debt crisis, has Moscow bitten off more than it can chew?
One Russian Official Who is Proud to Be a Criminal
Looking at this happy-looking fellow right here to the left. Not only is he a highly decorated public servant of the Russian Federation, he loves puppies too (perhaps he was inspired by Paul Krugman’s bizarre cat photos). His name is Vladimir Churov, Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, and apparently he would like you to […]
Will Russia Lose Business with the Next Venezuelan Government?
In case you haven’t been following the news, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has cancer. After several surgeries and chemotherapy treatments in Cuba, Chavez has returned to a very tense political situation (even by Venezuelan standards), as he has moved forward the upcoming elections from December to October 2012. In an interview with Mexico’s Milenio Semenal, […]
Video: Shevtsova and Gorbachev Discuss Putin’s Return
Here goes a fascinating conversation between Lilia Shevtsova and Mikhail Gorbachev, reflecting not only on the causes and fallout of the collapse of the Soviet Union, but also sharing perspectives on the new role the Vladimir Putin has cast for himself by reclaiming the presidency.
The Murder of Vasily Alexanyan
From Catherine Belton’s Financial Times coverage of yesterday’s death of Yukos lawyer Vasily Alexanyan, who, like Sergei Magnitsky, was denied urgent medical treatment while unlawfully jailed by the Russian government. “He would still be alive if he hadn’t spent a long time in solitary confinement and had received medical treatment in time,” Russian human rights […]
Russia’s Anti-Terror Ops in Turkey
Prof. Mark Galeotti (NYU) has an interesting piece in The Moscow News about the recent revenge killings of expatriate Chechens living in Turkey, raising troubling questions over the extra-territorial activity of state security services (and naturally, Russia is not alone in this). Last month, three Chechens living in Istanbul were leaving Friday prayers. Suddenly a […]
Kudrin’s Comeback
Clifford Gaddy argues that the work of Alexei Kudrin is not yet done, and as soon as Vladimir Putin re-assumes the presidency, a new job will be invented for him to fulfill. Kudrin and Putin came in August 1996 as a package, and in fact they operated under Chubais as such a tight team that […]
Russia’s Ultra-Right Gathers Steam
For the past number of years, extreme right groups of nationalists in Russia were more or less successfully contained, co-opted, and incorporated under the structures of the ruling party, with the Nashi only representing the tip of the iceberg. In more recent times, such as the explosion of street protests over the death of football […]
Why Prokhorov Fell Afoul of Managed Democracy
The sudden coup-like removal of Mikhail Prokhorov from the leadership of fake opposition party Pravoe Delo is the talk of the town, helped in no small part for his strong denunciation of Vladislav Surkov as a “puppetmaster” who whispers lies in the ears of Russia’s leaders, and leads them to premature decisions. It’s pretty hard […]
Russia News Blast
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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – February 24, 2022
Today in Russia: Invasion. Will the world respond?
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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – February 23, 2022
Today in Russia/CIS: Ukraine calls up reservists; Levada Center Director Volkov on public opinion in Russia; Erdogan says Turkey won’t accept Russian moves in Ukraine; EU and US latest sanctions; Russia-Ukraine crisis as viewed Uzbekistan; Israel walks a tightrope on its Ukraine position
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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – February 22, 2022
but which borders?;’ History professor (and President) Putin delivers fiery speech; Lavrov re-writes the rules of international sovereignty; UK and EU roll out initial sanctions, and Washington plans big moves; Nord Stream 2 finally meets its end after a slow, painful death; Zelensky’s speech; White House: On second thought, that’s an invasion; How will China respond?; Russia to evacuate all diplomatic staff from Ukraine
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