Institute of Modern Russia

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Media Must-Reads

Assange’s Connection with Putin, Russian Troops at Ukraine’s Border, and the Reorganization of Putin’s Political System

August 27–September 2

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02 September 2016

In this week’s Western media highlights, the New York Times explores the connection that seems to exist between Julian Assange and the Kremlin in light of the recent Democratic National Committee email leak that many experts trace back to Russian intelligence. Writing for Vox, Mark Galeotti dismisses the West’s fears that Russian troops are amassing by the Ukrainian border in order to invade. And in the Russian media, analysts discuss recent shifts in the Kremlin’s power structures and implications of the death of Uzbekistan president Islam Karimov, who occupied the office for 27 years.

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Media Must-Reads

Why the West Needs Kremlinology, Russia’s “Lost Decade,” and How Television Shapes Russian Consciousness

August 20–26

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26 August 2016

In this week’s Western media highlights, Anders Åslund explains in the American Interest that the West needs to revive Kremlinology, a Soviet-era analytical approach to deciphering and understanding the opaque practices of Russian politics. Meanwhile, in the Russian media, Vladislav Inozemtsev argues that despite the popular view, Russia’s “lost decade” is not the current one, but was instead the first ten years under Putin’s rule. And sociologist Aleksei Levinson writes that state television does not control the Russian public mind; in fact, it’s the Russian people who choose self-censorship.

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Economics

Sergey Aleksashenko: “The Statement about Not Having Enough Money for Salaries Is No Joke”

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22 August 2016

Sergey Aleksashenko

In his latest commentary about recent events in the Russian economy, Sergey Aleksashenko, nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, analyzes yet another decision of the Central Bank not to raise the key rate, the trend in issuance of mortgage credits, and the diminishing reserves of the Russian budget.

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Media Must-Reads

Putin and Erdogan Meet, Russian Envy, and How Russian Parties Are Funded

August 6–12

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13 August 2016

In this week’s Western media highlights, Lilia Shevtsova argues in the Financial Times that despite upbeat rhetoric on both sides, Moscow’s hopes for a Turkish pivot to the East are essentially naive. And in his essay for Foreign Affairs, Gregory Feifer dissects Russia’s deep-rooted envy toward the West. Meanwhile, in the Russian media, experts discuss the funding issues of Russian political parties in light of the upcoming parliamentary elections, as well as the ways Russian people see the country’s future and their own.

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Media Must-Reads

The “Bromance” between Trump and Putin, a Cyber Showdown, and How the American Media is Electing Putin President of the United States

July 30 – August 5

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05 August 2016

In this week’s Western media highlights, David Remnick dissects the mutual affection between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, arguing the latter is essentially using the former to promote his interests. In the Times, Dominick Kennedy reviews Russia’s propaganda efforts in the UK, while in Foreign Affairs, Andrei Soldatov explains how Russian intelligence is engaging with third parties to wage a cyberwar. In the Russian media, experts discuss the risks facing the Russian economy, the country’s unwillingness to modernize, and the U.S. media’s reaction to news that the DNC hacking scandal might have been staged by Russian intelligence.

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Economics

Sergey Aleksashenko: The Budget Situation is Lousy

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03 August 2016

Sergey Aleksashenko

In his latest commentary on recent events in the Russian economy, Sergey Aleksashenko, nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, analyzes statistics for the Russian economy through the first half of the year and finds the results are worse than expected. He also discusses the Kremlin’s nervousness concerning the strengthening of the ruble, and notes that the reduction of the net amount of trade operations in the balance of payments is causing still more alarm, and under current conditions could lead to rapid devaluation of the ruble.

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Media Must-Reads

Why Putin Hates Hillary, the Meaning of Russia’s Doping Scandal, and the March of Siloviki

July 23–29

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29 July 2016

In this week’s Western media highlights, Mark Galeotti argues in the Guardian that the doping scandal facing the Russian Olympic team is a symptom of the regime’s decline. In Politico, Michael Crowley and Julia Ioffe analyze the relationship between Hillary Clinton and Vladimir Putin in the wake of the alleged Kremlin-sponsored leak of Democratic National Committee emails. And Franklin Foer explains in Slate why Donald Trump plays the role of a “useful idiot” for the Kremlin, despite claims that he is a Manchurian Candidate for Putin. Meanwhile, in Russian media, discussions focused on Putin’s reshuffling in the top echelons of power and the regime’s pivot toward a “Chekistocracy.”

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Opinions

• Discussion

Leon Aron: “Don’t Expect a New Détente Between Russia and the West”

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26 July 2016

Olga Khvostunova

The Institute of Modern Russia continues its series of interviews with experts on the political situation in Russia, its relations with the West, and the future of the country’s political system. Olga Khvostunova, editor-in-chief of imrussia.org, spoke with Dr. Leon Aron, director of Russian studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), about the Putin regime’s domestic imperatives, reasons behind the cooling of relations between Russia and the West, and the “pie in the sky” dream of American presidents.

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Media Must-Reads

The Real Winner at the GOP Convention, Why a Military Coup Is Impossible in Russia, and Pavel Sheremet’s Murder

July 16–22

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22 July 2016

In this week’s Western media highlights, a number of publications, including the Huffington Post, wrote about controversial connections between Donald Trump’s aides and Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. Professor Nikolas Gvosdev argued in the National Interest that Putin also scored from Turkey’s failed military coup. Meanwhile, in the Russian media, Alexander Baunov explained why such a military coup could not be conceived in Russia. And the journalism community, shaken by the murder of a colleague, Pavel Sheremet, discussed the motives and political implications of this tragedy.

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Economics

Sergey Aleksashenko: “The government is driving the economy into stagnation”

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19 July 2016

Sergey Aleksashenko

In his latest commentary on recent events in the Russian economy, Sergey Aleksashenko, nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, analyzes the outlines of Russian budgetary policy and pension reform, the latest data about the automotive and mortgage markets, the possible sale by Mikhail Prokhorov of his business, and Gazprom’s dubious plans. His conclusion: it is becoming less and less comfortable to live and do business in Russia, even for those who are loyal to the system.