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New Russian Positivity

Details: 10 January 2020; Olga Khvostunova

According to Levada Center polls, 2019 was perceived by the Russians as slightly better than the previous year. Confidence in the president and the government has increased, as well as the feeling that the country is going in the right direction. However, according to Levada head and sociologist Lev Gudkov, this registered positivity is rooted in the people’s low expectations and a powerful propaganda campaign aimed at “reconciling people with reality.”

Details: Book Reviews

Will Russia Eventually Collapse?

Details: 12 December 2019; Dmitry Shlapentokh

As Vladimir Putin approaches his 20th anniversary as Russia’s de-facto leader, experts are pondering what his authoritarian rule means for the country. A recently released book by the Soviet dissident Andrei Amalrik, who predicted the collapse of the Soviet Union, offers interesting insights into Russia’s future.

Details: Analysis

Russia’s Game in Africa

Details: 12 November 2019; Ksenia Svetlova

As the United States continues its retreat from the Middle East and Africa, Russia’s increased influence in these regions is creating a new geopolitical reality. A case in point is the Russia-Africa summit held in Sochi a few weeks ago. While some experts point to the Kremlin’s lack of a long-term African strategy, it is a political vector worth watching.

Details

Opinions

Political Prisoners

Vladimir Bukovsky: “The more protests there are, the more likely political prisoners will be released”

Details: 08 November 2019; Olga Khvostunova

In memory of the legendary Soviet dissident Vladimir Bukovsky, IMR re-publishes his 2014 interview, in which he spoke on the differences between the political prisoners of Soviet times and those of today’s Russia, and shared his insights on the methods of struggling against political repressions.

Details: Opinions

Alina Polyakova: “The idea that you can have a real democracy in Russia is an existential threat to the Putin regime”

Details: 31 October 2019; Olga Khvostunova

Facebook has recently identified and taken down several disinformation campaigns backed by the governments of Russia and Iran. The company said it expects more foreign interference ahead of the 2020 presidential election in the U.S. As disinformation wars rage on, IMR’s Olga Khvostunova sat down with Dr. Alina Polyakova, the founding director of the Project on Global Democracy and Emerging Technology at the Brookings Institution and an expert on Russian political warfare, to discuss the Kremlin’s influence operations and what the U.S. can do to counter them. Dr. Polyakova has recently joined IMR’s board of trustees.

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