Institute of Modern Russia

Details

Economics

Putinomics: Who Will Pay for the Deficit?

Details

29 August 2013

Tatiana Stanovaya

Oil prices remain high, but Russia’s budget deficit is growing. In July, the Finance Ministry increased its budget deficit projections for 2014 from 0.4 percent to 0.5 percent. According to representatives from the Economic Development Ministry, GDP growth “looks like zero.” Under these circumstances, two developments in particular stand out: the possible abandoning of a program for boosting the country’s birth rate; and increasing allocations of sovereign funds toward the implementation of megaprojects. Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya discusses how Putin’s regime can survive the deficit.

Details

Nation

Pan-Slavism in Action

Details

28 August 2013

Alexander Yanov

The Institute of Modern Russia continues the series of articles about Russian nationalism written by the well-known historian Alexander Yanov. The first two essays, dedicated to Pan-Slavism, told the story of the birth of this ideology in Russia. The new installment of the series explains how a great patriotic hysteria led the country to a bloody war for liberation of the Balkan Slavs.

Details

Politics

Games: Olympic and Political

Details

27 August 2013

Alexander Podrabinek

The upcoming Sochi Olympics once again raise the question of the appropriateness of holding international sporting events in authoritarian countries. Author and analyst Alexander Podrabinek recalls the history of Olympic boycotts—which have always drawn irritation from sports officials.

Details

Politics

The Kremlin and Prokhorov

Details

21 August 2013

Tatiana Stanovaya

The atmosphere surrounding Russia’s regional elections scheduled for September 8 is rather contradictory. On one hand, the Kremlin has made it clear that the nonsystemic opposition will be allowed to participate in the elections—Alexei Navalny was registered as a candidate for Moscow mayor. On the other hand, Mikhail Prokhorov’s Civic Platform Party has been removed from the ballot almost everywhere. Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya discusses the reasons why the Kremlin is afraid of this party.

Details

Politics

Putin Brings Disappointment Back from Baku

Details

21 August 2013

Donald N. Jensen

Vladimir Putin’s visit to Baku was a disappointment to the Kremlin, but, as Donald N. Jensen, Resident Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, argues, Moscow will likely continue its efforts to draw Azerbaijan into its sphere of influence.

Details

Economics

Russia's Murky Angola Debt Deal

Details

20 August 2013

Boris Bruk

The circumstances surrounding the repayment of Angola’s debt to Russia—which has been called one of the biggest corruption schemes of the recent years—still offer more questions than answers. At least two prominent businessmen from the former Soviet Union were involved in this deal: Arcadi Gaydamak and Vitaly Malkin. IMR Advisor Boris Bruk has examined the details of the Angola debt deal.

Details

Nation

The Birth of Pan-Slavism

Part Two

Details

19 August 2013

Alexander Yanov

The Institute of Modern Russian continues the series of articles by the well-know historian Alexander Yanov. The first part of the essay on Pan-Slavism told the story of the birth of this movement. The second installment is dedicated to the standoff between radical “nomenklatura” and radical youth, and explains how Russia lost its chance for the timely adoption of the first сonstitution.

Details

World

US and Russia After the "Reset"

Details

15 August 2013

Donald N. Jensen

The cancellation of the bilateral meeting between Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin that had been scheduled for next month is being seen as a long-awaited acknowledgment from the White House that its “reset” policy had failed. Donald N. Jensen, Resident Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, argues that a new rapprochement between Washington and Moscow is unlikely any time soon.

Details

Politics

Not Stupidity, but Malevolence

Details

15 August 2013

Alexander Podrabinek

Critics of the current Russian regime often call its actions “stupid” and detrimental to its own image. According to author and analyst Alexander Podrabinek, however, what looks like government “stupidity” is actually a well-thought out strategy.

Details

Politics

Why Putin Needs Ukraine

Details

13 August 2013

Donald N. Jensen

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Ukraine on July 27 to attend a joint commemoration marking the 1,025th anniversary of Russia’s conversion to Christianity. As Donald N. Jensen, Resident Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, points out, despite the religious nature of the occasion, Putin used the event to push for a more secular and, for the Kremlin, more pressing agenda.