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Comédie Française: Why Marine Le Pen Will Not Become President

Details: 13 May 2015; Elena Servettaz

Moscow, an adherent to the principle of “divide and rule,” has long been attempting to split Europe by garnering the support of far-right and extreme left-wing political groups. Recently, for instance, dubious ties between the Kremlin and the French National Front have become increasingly obvious. While the popularity of the National Front within France is growing despite family friction between the head of the party, Marine Le Pen, and her father, the founder of the party Jean-Marie Le Pen, it’s early yet for the Kremlin to cry victory. As journalist Elena Servettaz explains, Marine Le Pen will never make it to the helm of the French Republic.

Details: Politics

Is Radical Nationalism in Russia Getting Out of Control?

Details: 12 May 2015; Donald N. Jensen

Radical nationalism has long been one of the leading threats to Russia’s national security. However, in recent years, and especially during the Ukraine crisis, the Kremlin has tried to co-opt the nationalists to use them to mobilize the population. At the moment, according to Donald Jensen, resident fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, there are increasing signs that the political situation may be gradually drifting out of the president’s control.

Details: Opinions

The Show Will Go On

Details: 11 May 2015; Alexander Podrabinek

Surrounding May 9, Victory Day, which commemorates the defeat of Nazi Germany, the solemn voices of newsreaders, propagandists, and spokesmen of the Russian government sounded louder than ever. According to writer Alexander Podrabinek, authorities at all levels are seeking to use the World War II military victory as the basis for a national idea, while Russian society, being ideologically inexperienced, attempts to imitate the authorities.

Details: Politics

Putin’s Patriotism Campaign: A Dangerous Bunch of Hot Air

Details: 08 May 2015; Ezekiel Pfeifer

The 70th anniversary of the victory over Germany in World War II has been increasingly viewed in Russia as an unprecedented event of historic and national scale. This view has been shaped by the sharp rise of patriotic sentiment caused by the Kremlin’s adventures in Ukraine and hysterical propaganda in the state media. According to independent Russia analyst Ezekiel Pfeifer, the tragedy of today’s patriotic campaign is that it relies on deceit and obscures the fact that Putin has failed to foster real achievements for Russians to take pride in.

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Sergei Aleksashenko: “Like homeopathy, sanctions work slowly”

Details: 04 May 2015; Leonid Martynyuk

The Institute of Modern Russia continues its series of interviews with Russian and Western experts on the situation in Russia, its relationship with the West, and the future of its political system. Journalist Leonid Martynyuk spoke with former chairman of Russia’s Central Bank, economist Sergei Aleksashenko, about the social and political situation in the country, the Kremlin’s propaganda, Putin’s tactics in Donbass, and the efficiency of Western sanctions.

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