This is a legacy website featuring a collection of work by the Carnegie Endowment’s global network of scholars on topics including Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia, and the post-Soviet states. This site is a product of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace based in Washington, D.C. For more recent work by Carnegie scholars in this field, please visit Carnegie Politika.
Putin does not want a collision with the West, but at the same time he wants to contain the West both within and around Russia.
Russia is re-emerging as a power in the Middle East. Yet Moscow’s objectives today are vastly different.
In order to develop an effective strategic approach toward Russia, Europeans must deepen their understanding of the changing Russian realities.
A long-term development strategy for the Russian eastern territories must address critical internal and external challenges, not just focus on repelling external threats.
Today, the two predominant political and social models—authoritarianism and liberal democracy—are experiencing simultaneous crises.
Russia is clearly concerned with the rise of Islamist extremists in the Middle East and is looking for ways to prevent destabilization in the region. At the same time, it is seeking to improve ties with various Arab countries.
Following Putin’s re-election, Russia faces two more key junctures that could shape the country’s future. The Kremlin will have to deal with limited revenues and it faces another election cycle in 2016-18.
Enhancing Russia’s soft power is one of the Kremlin’s goals. However, Russia’s image in the world is often negative, and, to be really attractive, Russia will need to change.
The formation of a Russian Special Operations Command is meant to counteract any threats that an increasingly volatile Syria and an unstable Afghanistan will pose to the Russian state.
The Boston bombing has heightened tensions in Europe and has had repercussions for Russia, especially in light of the need to provide security at the Sochi Olympics.