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Changing Tides, America’s Syria Shame, and Peaceful Coexistence

6–12 February

Details: 12 February 2016

In this week’s media must-reads, Robbie Gramer highlights the risks of a NATO policy that overlooks the Black Sea region, where Russia is continuing its military buildup. In the New York Times, Roger Cohen argues that the Obama administration’s policy in Syria is becoming Putin’s policy in Syria. And, in the American Interest, Lilia Shevtsova continues her series on how the West has misjudged Russia.

Details: Media Must-Reads

Putin’s Dragon, War of Words, and Kissinger’s Vision

30 January–5 February

Details: 05 February 2016

In this week’s media must-reads, Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov comes in the spotlight. He is profiled by Joshua Yaffa in the New Yorker and by Alexander Baunov in Foreign Affairs. And in the American Interest, Lilia Shevtsova continues her series on how the West and Russia see each other, this time focusing on the Putin doctrine.

Details: Book Reviews

No Putin, No Russia?

Details: 03 February 2016; Ezekiel Pfeifer

IMR analyst Ezekiel Pfeifer discusses The New Tsar, a perceptive new biography of Vladimir Putin by New York Times reporter Steven Lee Myers that explores the rise of Russia’s modern-day autocrat, from his childhood as a street fighter in Leningrad to his unlikely ascension to the Kremlin throne. The book exhaustively details the milestones of Putin’s life and offers astute analysis of the forces that have shaped him.

Details: Media Must-Reads

Stalin’s Revival, License to Kill, and Can Russia Survive Cheap Oil?

23 – 29 January

Details: 29 January 2016

In this week’s media highlights, Hannah Thoburn analyzes in the Foreign Policy the reasons for Stalin’s resurrected cult of personality. In Foreign Affairs, Edward Lucas argues that despite the findings of the Litvinenko inquiry Russia and the United Kingdom will continue business as usual. And Nicolas Gvosdev in his commentary for the National Interest discusses the effect of low energy prices on the Russian companies.

Details: Media Must-Reads

The Case of Alexander Litvinenko, Putin’s Pointers for U.S. Democracy, and How the West Misjudged Russia

16 – 22 January

Details: 22 January 2016

In this week’s media highlights, Luke Harding details in The Guardian the story of a former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko who was poisoned in 2006 in London. In The American Interest, Lilia Shevtsova takes on the mistakes of the expert community that focuses on Russia both inside the country and in the West. And Maxim Trudolyubov in his commentary for the Wilson Center discusses the drawbacks of the Russian state.

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