The Impact of the Hajj Pilgrimage in the North Caucasus
The Hajj, a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina, is an increasingly common practice among Russia's Muslims. According to various estimates since 2007, at least…
The Fallout from Ukraine’s 2010 Presidential Election: Internal Change and the Implications for Ukraine’s Ties with Russia
The dénouement of Ukraine’s presidential election in January-February 2010 was as raucous as the campaign. Appearing at a victory rally on election night, Viktor Yanukovych spoke to his supporters only…
What’s Ethnicity Got to Do With It? Healing the Wounds of Uzbek-Kyrgyz Violence in the Ferghana Valley
Although it appears that opportunistic actors with political and economic motivations provoked the violence that erupted in southern Kyrgyzstan during June of this year, the scale, rapid spread, and vicious…
Can Ukraine Still Perform Its Balancing Act?
Since 2008, Ukraine’s status as an “in-between” state has solidified. On the one hand, the country has indicated little willingness to accede to Russian-centered schemes of post-Soviet reintegration, such as…
Should Europe Care About Black Sea Security?
The Black Sea region has only recently appeared on Europe’s radar as something that is part of the continent and, therefore, in need of some attention and perhaps even action.…
Russia at 2020: a Neo-Leninist Hypothesis
Current thinking about Russia’s future is dominated by two hypotheses: the official one of technocratic authoritarian modernization and the liberal market modernization advocated by the oppositional elite. I would like…
The U.S.-Russia ‘Reset’: A Skeptical View
It has been more than two years since the Barack Obama administration initiated its so-called reset in the United States’ relations with the Russian Federation. Some might argue that it…
New Challenges to Russian Federalism
The alleged success of former president (and current prime minister) Vladimir Putin in recentralizing the Russian Federation requires critical appraisal. A number of limitations to the reunification project, as Putin…
Ukraine after the 2010 Presidential Election: Implications for Democracy and Foreign Policy
In the wake of Ukraine’s February 2010 presidential election, there are three major questions that need to be addressed before a comprehensive picture of Ukraine’s “post-Orange” future can be developed: …
The Third Restart: Challenges for Democracy in Post-Bakiyev Kyrgyzstan
In April 2010, the second president of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, was ousted from power after bloody clashes between authorities and protesters. He finally settled in Belarus, following the trajectory of…
Security Bridge or Vacuum in Post-Orange Ukraine: How Operative is the Euro-Atlantic Integration Toolbox?
The chronic political uncertainty in Ukraine has created a type of formal stability built upon a play-with-the-rules (instead of play-by-the-rules) archetype. This kind of stability may help consolidate national governance…
The Caspian Sea Region: Local Dynamics, Global Reverberations
The Caspian Sea region is one of the most dynamic focal points in Eurasia, and not only because of its strategic oil and gas resources. There are two major issues…