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December Complex

Details: 22 June 2015; Tatiana Stanovaya

On June 16, at the Kremlin’s initiative, the Constitutional Legislation and State Development Committee of the State Duma recommended the adoption of a bill rescheduling the 2016 parliamentary elections from December to September. Communist opposition to this draft seems hardly likely to prevent this change from being implemented. Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya discusses the underlying reasons of yet another Kremlin initiative.

Details: Politics

Weapons of Mass Deception. Part Two

Details: 17 June 2015; Vasily Gatov

In part one of his essay, prominent Russian media analyst Vasily Gatov explained the origins of Putin’s anti-Western narrative and the current Russian propaganda campaign. In this second installment, he focuses on the twisted logic behind this narrative and the mistakes of the West, and he provides recommendations on how to counter the Kremlin’s offensive.

Details: Politics

Weapons of Mass Deception. Part One

Details: 16 June 2015; Vasily Gatov

The overwhelming scale and deeply destructive nature of the Kremlin’s information war has only recently drawn attention of the Western mainstream media and policymakers. In part one of his essay, prominent Russian media analyst Vasily Gatov, visiting fellow at the Center of Communication Leadership and Policy, University of Southern California, explains the origins of the Russian propaganda and Putin’s anti-Western narrative.

Details: World

Why the “Putinization” of Turkey Has Failed

Details: 18 June 2015; Marina Sevalneva

The results of Turkey’s recent parliamentary elections came as a surprise to many. For the first time in the last twelve years, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party received only 41 percent of the vote, thus losing its simple majority in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Political analysts characterize both Turkey and Russia as hybrid regimes; however, a comparative analysis of the two countries shows that despite him being an admirer of Putin’s policies, Erdogan is not destined to follow in the Russian leader’s footsteps.

Details: Politics

Will Anyone Come to Russia’s 2018 World Cup?

Details: 10 June 2015; Ezekiel Pfeifer

Just as the International Federation of Association Football, better known as FIFA, is being hit by an enormous corruption scandal, Russian football is facing its own turmoil as well. Struggling with its own corruption issues, the economic recession, and construction delays in preparations for the 2018 World Cup, Moscow is having a hard time playing it cool. Given the country’s growing international isolation as a result of the Ukraine crisis, Vladimir Putin’s new “image project” might turn into another stress test for the regime.

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