Politics
A close look at the inner workings of authoritarian power in Russia and beyond, and the forces that could one day transform it: how the Kremlin holds and wields power, why the democratic opposition endures, and what a genuine political renewal would take
Why the West Must Provide Urgent Support to Pro-Democracy Russians
As the world seeks accountability for Russia’s war against Ukraine, a dangerous trend has emerged: anger and blame are increasingly directed not at the Kremlin, but at the very Russians who have long opposed it
Russian-Chinese Military Cooperation in the Time of COVID-19
After peaking in 2019, Russian-Chinese military cooperation declined sharply during the pandemic but quickly rebounded, revealing a partnership increasingly strategic in scope-even if still marked by asymmetry and caution
The Asymmetry of Russian-Sino Relations
Beijing now dominates economically and increasingly militarily, leveraging pressure from the “fish war” to oil pricing and foreign-policy concessions
The Kremlin and the 2021 Bundestag Elections
Attempts to Influence the Outcome and Create Instability
2021 in review: Is there any reason for optimism?
It is hard to summarize dispassionately the results of the outgoing year 2021—it turned out to be just too turbulent. And this turbulence did not let up for even a second, even in the days running up to New Year’s Eve
Putin’s Annual Press Conference
Putin's annual press conference upheld his long-standing tradition: no matter what topic the Russian president attempted to discuss, his narratives are full of fakes, disconnected from reality and inevitably swerve into anti-Western tirades
2021: From Domestic Repression to Foreign Policy Ultimatums
The main political event in Russia in 2021 was the elections to the State Duma, or the lower house of parliament. On the one hand, the elections brought closure to the long period of preparation for them; on the other hand, they signified the onset of a new period in the development of Russia’s political system
Russian State Duma Election
Assessment of the Election Results
Russia post-elections
As the dust settles after the September elections into the State Duma, several important factors define the outlook for 2024, when Putin will likely seek to extend his Presidential tenure for another term—and, if in case of success, stay in power indefinitely
The Kremlin’s Influence Quarterly vol.4
This issue of The Kremlin’s Influence Quarterly focuses on the Kremlin malign influence in the areas of European politics and media.