Popular Russian proverb "Every cloud has a silver lining" has a profound meaning. It reminds us that the plainer the evil, the easier it is to mark it out as a target. This past year of Putin's presidency once again confirms the truth of the proverb. Author and analyst Alexander Podrabinek reviews Vladimir Putin's first steps since he got back to the Kremlin.
The system of Russian science is deteriorating, despite the government's claims that the country is modernizing. This April, Thomson Reuters published a report revealing that Russia is absent from leadership groups in the 100 top-ranked specialties in the sciences and social sciences. Another report, produced by the Russian Association for the Advancement of Science at the end of 2012, called the current state of affairs “catastrophic.” IMR analyst Olga Khvostunova examines the reasons for the crisis in Russian science and its implications for the country's future.
The Institute of Modern Russia continues the series of publications by prominent scholar Alexander Yanov on the history of Russian nationalism. In this article, the author recounts the unheeded warning of the philosopher Vladimir Solovyov.
The principal idea that consolidates different parts of Russian society is xenophobia and intolerance to “others.” Such, at least, was the conclusion of a new study on Russia’s “ideological portrait.” IMR Advisor Boris Bruk, who has analyzed the study, is skeptical about predictions of a “fascist” future for Russia.
In April, White House National Security Advisor Tom Donilon brought a message from U.S. President Barack Obama to Vladimir Putin, the purpose of which was to help pave the way for a new mode of cooperation between Russia and the United States. In late May, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev handed over Putin’s response to Obama. Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya argues that progress in missile defense would mark a breakthrough in Russian-American relations.
On June 3, the Institute of Modern Russia launched a new design for its corporate website, imrussia.org. Substantial changes were made in both website layout and its structure. Our new design allows a clearer display of IMR’s projects, conferences, and other events in a more detailed and distinctive way, efficiently providing you with the latest IMR organizational news and activities.
The Institute of Modern Russia continues the series of publications by prominent scholar Alexander Yanov on the history of Russian nationalism. In this article, the author discusses the ideological influence of Slavophiles on the Great Reform of 1861.
As Russia’s authoritarian system grows more repressive, the result is not only more political prisoners, but also more political émigrés. As in Soviet times, it is some of the best and the brightest who are leaving the country. IMR Senior Policy Advisor Vladimir Kara-Murza discusses the significance of the new wave of political emigration for the Putin regime—and for Russia.
On June 11, the Institute of Modern Russia and the Foreign Policy Initiative will co-host a Capitol Hill forum on the human rights situation in Russia. The event, which comes a week before the meeting between Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland, will feature Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov.
The 2011-2012 pro-democracy rallies in Russia pointed to a growing political awareness and political muscle of the country’s middle class. Donald N. Jensen, Resident Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, discusses the Russian middle class, its social nature and its political potential.
Our newsletter delivers a digest of analytical articles and op-eds published on our website, along with the latest updates on the IMR activities on a monthly basis.