Why “Reputation” Is Irrelevant in Russian Public Politics

It is rather easy to find compromising information about the majority of Russian politicians irrespective of political affiliation. In established democracies, even just accusations of impropriety often end political careers.…

Protests Without Leaders: Making Multiple Choices into a Source of Strength

One striking and puzzling feature of the wave of protests that has risen in Moscow since the fraudulent parliamentary elections last December is the absence of a group of leaders…

Drug Trafficking in Central Asia: A Poorly Considered Fight?

As strategizing for the “post-2014” regional order in Central Asia picks up speed, the fight against drug trafficking from Afghanistan is evolving as a key objective of international donor involvement…

Thief or Savior? Contesting Personalism in Russia’s Rallies and Protests

“Russia Without Putin!” Such battle cries by anti-regime protesters took sharp aim at a pillar of Russia’s electoral authoritarian regime: Vladimir Putin’s personalist link to voters. With chants of “Putin-Thief”…

Election Observers and Key Constituencies in Russia’s 2011-2012 Election Cycle

Election-monitoring reports from both international and domestic election observers often play a key role in post-election politics. The extent to which election observers are trusted or influential thus is of…

Is Russian Society Waking Up?

In December 2011, a volcano of social activism that had long been dormant started to erupt in Russia, thrusting the country’s domestic politics into headlines around a world recently captivated…

The Passive Majority in Russian Politics: Can Quality Beat Quantity?

Reacting to the events in Moscow of May 6, 2012, when opposition protests led to massive clashes with the police for the first time, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov described…

Bolstering Exchange Programs to Link University Education with Liberal Views in Russia: A Different Perspective on “Democracy Assistance”

Efforts by the United States to promote democracy and civil society in Russia by directly supporting institutions such as political parties, nongovernmental organizations, alternative media outlets, and opposition groups have…

Pluralism or Impunity?

Notes from Kraków How effective are theories as explanatory tools? How strong should our commitments be to certain theories? These questions ignited a vivid debate at the 9th Convention…

Moldova as a Test Case?

Guest post by Andrey Devyatkov—After the recent visit of Angela Merkel to Moldova on 22 August many experts expected that the Transdnestrian settlement is to become one of key…

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