Opinions - Institute of Modern Russia

Latest Articles

Leon Aron: “Don’t Expect a New Détente Between Russia and the West”

Details

Opinions

Discussion

Leon Aron: “Don’t Expect a New Détente Between Russia and the West”

Details: 26 July 2016; Olga Khvostunova

The Institute of Modern Russia continues its series of interviews with experts on the political situation in Russia, its relations with the West, and the future of the country’s political system. Olga Khvostunova, editor-in-chief of imrussia.org, spoke with Dr. Leon Aron, director of Russian studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), about the Putin regime’s domestic imperatives, reasons behind the cooling of relations between Russia and the West, and the “pie in the sky” dream of American presidents.

Who is to blame for what happened to the Russian Constitution, and What do we do about it now?

Details: Opinions

Who is to blame for what happened to the Russian Constitution, and What do we do about it now?

Details: 17 December 2015; Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, founder of the Open Russia movement, discusses why the Russian Constitution is “no more than a piece of paper—a sham symbol of federalism, freedom and democracy.”

Robert Orttung: ‘The Tension Is Going to Build Up in Russia Until You Have a Revolution’

Details: Opinions

Robert Orttung: ‘The Tension Is Going to Build Up in Russia Until You Have a Revolution’

Details: 18 November 2015; Ezekiel Pfeifer

As the Russian economy flounders due to the low price of oil, the possibility of social unrest has risen, leading Putin’s government to clench its grip on the media and the political system. But will its approach backfire as the tension builds? IMR analyst Ezekiel Pfeifer spoke with Dr. Robert Orttung, professor of international affairs at George Washington University, about the Kremlin propaganda machine, Putin’s sky-high approval rating, and the likelihood of revolutionary change in Russia.

Building a Viable Opposition

Details: Opinions

Building a Viable Opposition

Details: 19 October 2015; Reid Nelson

After the Russian opposition’s discouraging performance in the Kostroma regional election in September, activists have been asking themselves the question: What is the way forward? Their focus has been primarily on how to increase their vote totals, but according to Reid Nelson, the opposition first needs to formulate a long-term development strategy and ancillary goals for elections, which will help it to establish a well-functioning organization—and, eventually, to gain power.

Timur Kuran: 'An Atmosphere of Repression Leads to Preference Falsification Among Opinion Leaders'

Details: Opinions

Timur Kuran: 'An Atmosphere of Repression Leads to Preference Falsification Among Opinion Leaders'

Details: 14 October 2015; Denis Volkov

The phenomenon of Vladimir Putin’s sky-high approval rating (over 80 percent) is widely discussed by social scientists. One argument holds that this number is inaccurate and that pollsters are at fault. Levada Center sociologist Denis Volkov spoke to Timur Kuran, a prominent social thinker and a professor of economics and political science at Duke University, about the concept of “preference falsification,” which helps explain the high approval ratings attained by leaders of repressive regimes.

Igor Sutyagin: ‘The Likelihood of War with the West, Alas, Is Far from Zero’

Details: Opinions

Igor Sutyagin: ‘The Likelihood of War with the West, Alas, Is Far from Zero’

Details: 15 September 2015; Olga Khvostunova

Over the last year, the rhetoric of war has increasingly colored discussions about relations between Russia and the West. More American and European military and political figures have started calling Russia the main threat to the security of their countries, and Moscow has ordered more large-scale military exercises than usual, in regions from the Arctic to the Far East. Igor Sutyagin, senior research assistant at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), spoke with Imrussia.org editor-in-chief Olga Khvostunova about the combat readiness of Russian forces and the prospect of a military conflict breaking out between Russia and the West.

The Curious Case of the Soviet Star Painter

Details

Opinions

Political Prisoners

The Curious Case of the Soviet Star Painter

Details: 27 August 2015; Alexander Podrabinek

On August 17, Moscow’s Tagansky District Court initiated proceedings on the so-called “roofers’ case”: Last year, roofer Pavel Ushivets scaled the golden pinnacle of a Stalin-era skyscraper and painted half of it blue to resemble Ukraine’s national colors, then planted a Ukrainian flag on its spire. Instead of arresting the roofer, though, police arrested four base-jumpers who happened to climb the building that same day. According to writer Alexander Podrabinek, the vandalism case initiated against the base-jumpers is ridiculous both in form and in content, and the accused are essentially being held hostage.

Gleb Sitkovsky: ‘The Government Believes That If It Gives Money to Theaters, It Has the Right to Make Demands’

Details

Opinions

Discussion

Gleb Sitkovsky: ‘The Government Believes That If It Gives Money to Theaters, It Has the Right to Make Demands’

Details: 18 August 2015; Polina Surnina

In recent years, the Russian government has begun to interfere more significantly in the work of cultural institutions. As part of the Institute of Modern Russia’s ongoing interview series, journalist Polina Surnina spoke with theater critic Gleb Sitkovsky about manifestations of patriotism in theater, anonymous zealots of morality, and attempts by the Culture Ministry to exercise control over the creative process.

Georgy Satarov: ‘The Opposition Needs to Put the Authorities in Zugzwang’

Details

Opinions

Discussion

Georgy Satarov: ‘The Opposition Needs to Put the Authorities in Zugzwang’

Details: 12 August 2015; Olga Khvostunova

As part of the Institute of Modern Russia’s ongoing interview series with Russian and Western experts, imrussia.org editor-in-chief Olga Khvostunova sat down with INDEM Foundation president Georgy Satarov to talk about social discontent, the consequences of the law on ’’undesirable organizations,’’ the principle of simplification in Putin’s politics, and the chances for a real opposition to emerge in Russia.

Patriots of Banning

Details: Opinions

Patriots of Banning

Details: 07 August 2015; Alexander Podrabinek

On July 7, a so-called “patriotic stop-list” was created in Russia, identifying twelve foreign non-governmental organizations whose activity has been deemed “undesirable” in the country. On July 22, the MacArthur Foundation, included in the stop-list, announced its decision to leave Russia. According to writer Alexander Podrabinek, this is only the beginning of a large-scale campaign against Russian civil society.

1
2
3
4
...
6
7
8

IMR would like to announce a new vacancy position in the capacity of president of the organization. The potential candidates should have at least 10 years of relevant experience, profound knowledge of Russian politics, and understanding of the current US media and political landscape. Please refer to the full job description here.

Our newsletter delivers a digest of analytical articles and op-eds published on our website, along with the latest updates on the IMR activities on a monthly basis.